Full Moon...and Other Good News

Last night I realized that it was a full moon when a homeless man was released from a local hospital to the Mission via an ambulance.  It is common for us to accept newly released homeless patients; however this man did not need to be brought to a shelter.  When the ambulance arrived he was quickly carried in by the driver and his assistant and laid on a bench.  We were all in shock that this man in such poor medical and physical condition, had ended up at the Mission.  One of our case managers helped the man, gave him water and called Emergency Medical Services.  He was taken back to the hospital but this time our case manager stayed with him all night in the waiting room until he was formally admitted.  I am not a medical doctor but I rarely see men in such poor condition.  I can only hope that we can help others in his condition to have more appropriate discharge planning.

 

Another homeless man was laid to rest last week as volunteer Chaplain Earl Roth and Samaritan Patrol volunteer Kris Saylor assisted with a memorial service.  I remember the man well.  He deserved a proper service and the homeless community and others made sure he received one.

 

Good News!  Assistant ministers from Calvin Presbyterian Church, Pittsburg Pennsylvania, met with Virginia Taylor, the Mission Choir Director, and John Venson, her assistant, over the weekend to put the final touches on the choir’s new CD.  Calvin has been involved helping the Mission with many projects over the years and they have had the Choir up to their church and the local Christian School to perform and share the Gospel through music and about the destructiveness of drug and alcohol abuse.  It is great to see this type of cross country support.

 

On Wednesday evening August, 8^th, the “Wellness Wednesday” Group (a program of We Survive) met and conducted a workshop.  Nearly 100 women from our family shelter, single women’s shelter and Safe Haven all met to hear the message.  The volunteers work under Sharon Cecil, one of the Mission’s volunteer coordinators.

 

On Saturday night we will be taking the children at Wayside Christian Mission shopping for school clothing and coats and putting together school supplies for their back packs.  School supplies have been generously donated by the community.  This week JCPS also supplied the kids with uniforms that are required at some schools. 

 

Our shelter remains full even though we are no longer under White Flag conditions.  Our Samaritan Patrol continues to travel the street each day looking for men and women who need a place to call home even if only for a short period of time. 

 

We are now preparing more emergency food than ever.  Today we ran completely out of canned vegetables and need help to build up a supply for each day and for the upcoming winter months.  It takes nine institutional size cans for each meal.

 

Our annual golf scramble is being planned for October 16th.  More information will be coming on this event which has proven to be a fun way to support the efforts of the Mission.