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GraceNow! Food,
clothing without the red tape
Can you imagine not knowing when your next meal will come? This is reality for some Madison countians. Although there are several government programs to feed the hungry, some people have fallen through the cracks because the government does not have programs to fit special circumstances. That’s why Rosedale Baptist Church in Richmond began a ministry, GraceNow, dedicated to feeding those who are hungry in Madison County. Since its inception in November 2001, GraceNow has fed more than 700 families each year. The difference . . . cutting through the red tape So what makes GraceNow different from government programs? We strive to meet needs now. We don’t ask people to fill out extensive paperwork and then wait weeks for assistance. We avoid as much red tape as possible. Often, we serve people who face short-term financial problems. Traumatic events may have forced them to live in poverty temporarily. If they meet our qualifications, they will leave that day with enough food for five hot meals over the next week. While we encourage clients to limit their visits to once a month, we know emergencies happen. Yet more than 80 percent of our clients have used GraceNow services five times or less. Our clients . . . those in need Our clients have an average monthly income of $545. Once rent and utilities are figured, that leaves little money for food and other necessities. Children and the elderly make up more than half of our client base. Most of our clients are on fixed incomes—either social security or disability—without the opportunity to supplement their wages. Our duty . . . serving Madison County responsibly We want to ensure that we are using our donations to assist those with legitimate needs. In addition to following government poverty guidelines, we verify clients’ income, employment, and whether they have received assistance from other sources. Your response . . . making a difference Organizations
and individuals can help in many ways: Clothing Donations: For those clients who need clothes for their family members, we operate a clothing closet. We welcome your donations of quality used clothing. Volunteering: Volunteers are needed to work with clients, buy food supplies, and organize the clothes closet. We need others, who we call Ambassadors of Grace, to tell our story to their organizations. Host a food drive or fund-raising effort: We would appreciate your organization hosting a food drive or fundraising effort, with proceeds donated to GraceNow. All donations are tax deductible. Make checks payable to Rosedale Baptist Church, with a notation designating the contribution for GraceNow. Our calling . . . why we do what we do Jesus Christ lived a radical life that has changed the world forever. He came to love and lead all of us. He also came to help those who could not help themselves . . . the poor, the ill, and the unloved. We pray that our efforts will provide not only food and clothing, but also a sense of hope and love to the people we encounter. Jesus loved us first, which gives us more than enough reason to love all of God’s children. If you have a heart for helping those less fortunate, please contact us. GraceNow:
Touching Hearts. . . Meeting needs (Posted March 2, 2005) |
Imagine
going to bed hungry at night. Imagine looking into your children’s
eyes and telling them there is not enough food to have dinner today.