Another food box found a home. The lady who stopped in expressed gratitude for the help.
To her, the pantry food box didn't just mean that her family would eat; it meant that someone cared. She was at the ministry center for awhile talking about her life. She seemed to need to talk as much as she needed the food. We were glad to be there for her.
To those who help stock our little food pantry we appreciate it. You help us make a difference for others.
Showing posts with label Rural Poor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rural Poor. Show all posts
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
New Intern Set to Change Lives
We have a new intern who is set to change lives. Samantha came on Tuesday for her first visit to the Ministry Center. We showed her around and talked about what we do. She seems excited at the thoughts of working with the kids. I am excited to get her started and sent her out with homework.
Look for her posts here. She's going to be a guest blogger this summer and share her insights.
Allie will also be returning this summer. This will be her 3rd and final year. It is project that she will be going to Sudan after graduating from college in summer 2010. Her plans are to teach music to high school students in that country. She too will be a guest blogger.
Also joining us soon will be two other students. Both of these kids are joining us for a few weeks through stimulus money.
We are excited and deeply appreciative to have so many extra hands this summer.
Come visit us and see what we are doing!
Look for her posts here. She's going to be a guest blogger this summer and share her insights.
Allie will also be returning this summer. This will be her 3rd and final year. It is project that she will be going to Sudan after graduating from college in summer 2010. Her plans are to teach music to high school students in that country. She too will be a guest blogger.
Also joining us soon will be two other students. Both of these kids are joining us for a few weeks through stimulus money.
We are excited and deeply appreciative to have so many extra hands this summer.
Come visit us and see what we are doing!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Biden tells ABC he will Chair Middle Class Task Force
On the ABC program "This Week", Vice President-elect Joe Biden announced that he will chair a new Middle Class Task Force. In the interview with George Stephanopoulos, Biden said that the Task Force will examine "everything from college affordability to after-school programs" with a goal to "grow the middle class". It sounds like plan to create jobs and the United States back to work.
Potentially, this is good news for everyone. Like everywhere, people in Strawberry Plains are hurting. The news about the closure of the mine doesn't help. (which is really the only large employer on this end of Jefferson County, TN). Probably none will benefit from the focus of Biden's team as much as some of the clients that we serve.
Late last week I spoke with a grandmother on the phone. Her utilities are about to be disconnect. Although I couldn't help her with money we could assist with food and a few toys for Christmas. More importantly, I could listen to this amazingly strong woman.
Over the past year, she and her husband lost their home to foreclosure. She said her husband and grandfather goes out daily to a temp service hoping for a job. Some days he is lucky. Most days he isn't. Now, they have their two young grandchildren. The rent is behind and the utilities are about to be disconnected.
In three days, it will be Christmas. The little ones hope that Santa will find them.
She is hoping that hope will find them and I do too. This season we have even more reason to be hopeful.
To read more about the interview go to:
http://www.abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/story?id=6502378&page=1
Potentially, this is good news for everyone. Like everywhere, people in Strawberry Plains are hurting. The news about the closure of the mine doesn't help. (which is really the only large employer on this end of Jefferson County, TN). Probably none will benefit from the focus of Biden's team as much as some of the clients that we serve.
Late last week I spoke with a grandmother on the phone. Her utilities are about to be disconnect. Although I couldn't help her with money we could assist with food and a few toys for Christmas. More importantly, I could listen to this amazingly strong woman.
Over the past year, she and her husband lost their home to foreclosure. She said her husband and grandfather goes out daily to a temp service hoping for a job. Some days he is lucky. Most days he isn't. Now, they have their two young grandchildren. The rent is behind and the utilities are about to be disconnected.
In three days, it will be Christmas. The little ones hope that Santa will find them.
She is hoping that hope will find them and I do too. This season we have even more reason to be hopeful.
To read more about the interview go to:
http://www.abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/story?id=6502378&page=1
Saturday, December 13, 2008
A+ Ministry Day, Angel Food Distribution Restorative Justice
The Angel Food distribution went smoothly. An extra food box quickly found a new home. She was so thankful to get it!
Plus, we had a wonderful teen from Restorative Justice that was helping plus two college kids. Everyone remembered their food boxes and several gifts of in-kind donations came in. It's one of those days that makes you proud to be in ministry.
Despite the cold, no heat and working outside we persevered - just like our clients do everyday.
Today was a good day.
Plus, we had a wonderful teen from Restorative Justice that was helping plus two college kids. Everyone remembered their food boxes and several gifts of in-kind donations came in. It's one of those days that makes you proud to be in ministry.
Despite the cold, no heat and working outside we persevered - just like our clients do everyday.
Today was a good day.
Monday, August 04, 2008
Free Clothing, Food
With school starting many families are facing a real crunch. At Hope for Healing.Org, we'd like to help.
If you are in the Strawberry Plains zip code, or if you attend a school we serve, you may come by our shop and pick up some clothing for school during our normal school hours on Thursday and Friday. It's based out of stock on hand. Sizes cannot be guaranteed.
To qualify, all we need is a referral. This can be a note from your pastor, shelter, advocate, a teacher, case manager, social worker etc. It doesn't have to be on letterhead but does need to have a verifying phone number. The note needs to say that you meet the above guidelines and that you need clothes.
Schools served include:
Carter Elementary
Carter Middle
Carter High
Rush Strong School
We also maintain a small food pantry. Food boxes are available during the clothing and shop hours.
For questions please call 865.933.8769 or email hopeinfo@hopeforhealing.org
Donations of clothing and food are accepted during the operating hours of 11:00-3:00 Tues - Sat.Please bring them to the thrift shop. We'll be glad to help you unload. A tax receipt can be provided.
If you are in the Strawberry Plains zip code, or if you attend a school we serve, you may come by our shop and pick up some clothing for school during our normal school hours on Thursday and Friday. It's based out of stock on hand. Sizes cannot be guaranteed.
To qualify, all we need is a referral. This can be a note from your pastor, shelter, advocate, a teacher, case manager, social worker etc. It doesn't have to be on letterhead but does need to have a verifying phone number. The note needs to say that you meet the above guidelines and that you need clothes.
Schools served include:
Carter Elementary
Carter Middle
Carter High
Rush Strong School
We also maintain a small food pantry. Food boxes are available during the clothing and shop hours.
For questions please call 865.933.8769 or email hopeinfo@hopeforhealing.org
Donations of clothing and food are accepted during the operating hours of 11:00-3:00 Tues - Sat.Please bring them to the thrift shop. We'll be glad to help you unload. A tax receipt can be provided.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Homeless Couple Moves Out
Some of you know about the homeless couple that was staying in my office. Good news! He got his first paycheck from his new job. With it they have gotten their camper trailer back and have moved out. A camper trailer may not be what some of us would choose for a home but she is thrilled. It's still an uphill battle for them and this is the first step. Now, they have to find an affordable place to park the trailer. They have to buy food etc. and get their phones turned back on. One paycheck won't get them out of homelessness. But for right now they are on their way and they are happy.
What more could we want for them?
What more could we want for them?
Friday, August 17, 2007
Rural Poverty
It's been hot before in Tennessee but not like now. People across the state are taking extra precautions. Outdoor pets are being brought inside. The nightly news is telling everyone to check on the elderly. If you have breathing problems like asthma you are being told to stay inside. It's bad. Some folks have taken to going to the mall or movie theater to escape the heat.
People are suffering but the poor suffer the most. Our rural area is no exception. If you live in the city and have $2.00 you may be able to walk to a corner store to buy something to eat or to pick up what you need. In the country that $2.00 won't even buy a gallon of gas to take you anywhere.
Hard times force hard choices. School just started. Family budget money allocated for other areas is being shuffled to provide the required items for school. Those needs top the list of buying items in most homes. Then what? Do you buy school supplies and clothing or rent and utilities? Do kids really need a new backback or is that just a want? What do you do when there's too much month when your money runs out?
Fortunately, there's help. Before we opened in Strawberry Plains the nearest help center was over 12 miles away. That's quite a distance if your car won't run well and seems further if you don't have a car.
We have an agreement with a local church to provide food boxes outside of their designated times. Yesterday was a miserable day for the church to have a food pantry open but open it was. Only a few came but those in did wreched your heart.
About an hour after closing time there was a knock on the door. The pastor opened it to find a grandmother standing outside with her little granddaughter in tow. Both looked tired and hot. The little girl carried a bottle filled with juice and her pacifier.
Hesitantly, the grandmother asked for a food box. The pastor was glad to oblige. While he was putting it together the little girl chattered about the day. When asked what kinds of cereal she liked for breakfast the little girl said she'd eaten only brownies that morning and announced that she was thirsty.
That's when the grandmother gave the pastor the empty cup she had brought with her and asked if the church gave away ice. The little girl wasn't to be outdone. She handed the pastor her warm bottle of juice. If ice was to be had she wanted some too please. The pastor thought this was an odd thing to do but was glad to fill both the cup and bottle.
The three chatted for a minute. It was an uneasy, nervous conversation. The pastor got the feeling the folks wanted something else but were nervous about asking. When domestic violence came up he called me and I immediately went over. The grandmother proved to be as reserved as the little girl was outgoing. You could tell she didn't like asking for help but I did my best to reassure her. She and the granddaughter are safe. She was asking on behalf of someone else. Then, the conversation wound down and I made ready to leave. That's when the grandmother nervously stepped up again.
She ducked her head and quietly asked if she could get help carrying the food box home. You see it's hard for her to carry it. She's a diabetic and has other physical problems. She wasn't sure she could manage the load and her granddaughter. It wasn't more than a mile or so. Could we give her a ride? If not, they'd take what they could carry.
I was shocked that they had walked in 100+ degree searing heat to get food. Of course they could have a ride! It took me 30 seconds to get the car and pull it around to the back door. We pulled to the end of a road where the houses saw better days years ago. At the end was a neat little house with pink toys strewn about the yard.
We pulled into the driveway. The little girl was excited at the idea of company. The grandmother wasn't. She asked the pastor to put the box on the porch so they could carry it in stages into the house. So, he did while I zeroed the mileage to see how far they'd walked.
I dropped the pastor back at the church and checked the odometer. It was just over 1 mile each way to the church from their house. That's a long way to walk in the heat with a little girl. We'll be back to check on them soon in case there's anything else we can do.
Keep them in your prayers will you?
People are suffering but the poor suffer the most. Our rural area is no exception. If you live in the city and have $2.00 you may be able to walk to a corner store to buy something to eat or to pick up what you need. In the country that $2.00 won't even buy a gallon of gas to take you anywhere.
Hard times force hard choices. School just started. Family budget money allocated for other areas is being shuffled to provide the required items for school. Those needs top the list of buying items in most homes. Then what? Do you buy school supplies and clothing or rent and utilities? Do kids really need a new backback or is that just a want? What do you do when there's too much month when your money runs out?
Fortunately, there's help. Before we opened in Strawberry Plains the nearest help center was over 12 miles away. That's quite a distance if your car won't run well and seems further if you don't have a car.
We have an agreement with a local church to provide food boxes outside of their designated times. Yesterday was a miserable day for the church to have a food pantry open but open it was. Only a few came but those in did wreched your heart.
About an hour after closing time there was a knock on the door. The pastor opened it to find a grandmother standing outside with her little granddaughter in tow. Both looked tired and hot. The little girl carried a bottle filled with juice and her pacifier.
Hesitantly, the grandmother asked for a food box. The pastor was glad to oblige. While he was putting it together the little girl chattered about the day. When asked what kinds of cereal she liked for breakfast the little girl said she'd eaten only brownies that morning and announced that she was thirsty.
That's when the grandmother gave the pastor the empty cup she had brought with her and asked if the church gave away ice. The little girl wasn't to be outdone. She handed the pastor her warm bottle of juice. If ice was to be had she wanted some too please. The pastor thought this was an odd thing to do but was glad to fill both the cup and bottle.
The three chatted for a minute. It was an uneasy, nervous conversation. The pastor got the feeling the folks wanted something else but were nervous about asking. When domestic violence came up he called me and I immediately went over. The grandmother proved to be as reserved as the little girl was outgoing. You could tell she didn't like asking for help but I did my best to reassure her. She and the granddaughter are safe. She was asking on behalf of someone else. Then, the conversation wound down and I made ready to leave. That's when the grandmother nervously stepped up again.
She ducked her head and quietly asked if she could get help carrying the food box home. You see it's hard for her to carry it. She's a diabetic and has other physical problems. She wasn't sure she could manage the load and her granddaughter. It wasn't more than a mile or so. Could we give her a ride? If not, they'd take what they could carry.
I was shocked that they had walked in 100+ degree searing heat to get food. Of course they could have a ride! It took me 30 seconds to get the car and pull it around to the back door. We pulled to the end of a road where the houses saw better days years ago. At the end was a neat little house with pink toys strewn about the yard.
We pulled into the driveway. The little girl was excited at the idea of company. The grandmother wasn't. She asked the pastor to put the box on the porch so they could carry it in stages into the house. So, he did while I zeroed the mileage to see how far they'd walked.
I dropped the pastor back at the church and checked the odometer. It was just over 1 mile each way to the church from their house. That's a long way to walk in the heat with a little girl. We'll be back to check on them soon in case there's anything else we can do.
Keep them in your prayers will you?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)