Williamsburg's Homeless & Indigent

P.O. Box 366, Lightfoot, VA 23090
Office: 757-561-3255
wsmburghomeless@yahoo.com
"Assisting people in re-gaining hope and a better way of life."

Saturday, September 11, 2004

Homeless Times

Well I finally took the time out to do a newsletter for the homeless and what's going on around here. This was inspired for a Volunteer Fair I went to at W&M on Wednesday night. I wanted to be able to give a handout that would answer some of the questions I commonly get asked. So (although this isn't the appeance of the newsletter), here is the info.

WHI's Food Ministry

No, Williamsburg does not have a famine occurring. But there are several families in our area that go hungry weekly, cut back on other important expenses to buy food, or pray for assistance from other resources. Are there enough resources in our area? In my opinion, no! So, other than my computer being up and down due to being hit during one of our storms, we have been busy preparing for God latest gift: to help provide food, at our expense, to people in the Lightfoot, Croaker, Toano, and Norge area.

The people we are trying to reach out most to are the Latino residents in our area. In the past, the language barrier has been a problem. By God's grace, we know several people who can assist in translating for us, my husband being one of them.

What makes this ministry differ from many others we have seen? Weekly, we will have Pastors, Deacons, and Christian Counselors on hand in case somebody needs a person to speak with for guidance or if they are going through a crisis at the moment other than a lack of food. Also, we were given a $500 grant from the International Bible Society and ordered enough Bibles (and pocket New Testaments) to have on hand for people who are visually challenged ( large print Bibles), or speak Spanish. Also, once a month, Becky Gordon, a hairdresser at Hair Cuttery, will provide free haircuts for our 'friends'.

August 19th was our first day of providing food (for the Lord) to people. We served 6 families (which totalled 26 people.) A total of 350 lbs. was distributed during the 2 hours. Each family received 4 nights' worth of meat, canned goods, breakfast and sandwich bread, dried milk, 5 lbs. of potatoes and corn. The meats consisted of packages of bacon, hot dogs with buns, an 8 lb. bag of rock fish, pork sausage rolls, and pasta with pasta sauce. We also gave out 20 Bibles, children toys and books.

August 26th, God brought 24 families (which totalled 93 people). A total of 1400 lbs. was distributed during the 2 hours. The breakdown of weight was: 400 lbs. of meat, 187 lbs. of canned goods, 300 lbs. of Bread/Pasta/Potatoes, 60 lbs. of Milk/Soda, 62.5 lbs. of Dried Beans, 87.5 lbs. of Pasta Sauce, 13 lbs. of Misc. (Crackers, Snacks, etc.). We also gave out 13 Bibles and 20 Salvation tracts.
God blessed us with a 128% increase from August 19th to August 26th in serving the Latino population in Williamsburg.

September 2nd was fewer families than the week before, but still we served 13 families which consisted of 52 people. Overall we gave out 725 lbs. of food. The greatest of news was that 13 children received free haircuts for "Back To School Haircut" day.
Genesis 43:4
If thou wilt send our brother with us,
we will go down and buy thee food


Also, our Bibles arrived! We now have Bibles in English and Spanish. New tracts came in as well on anxiety, addiction and forgiveness.

Our Monthly Schedule

1st & 3rd Saturday: Karaoke Night
7:00 - 10:00 PM
2nd & 4th Friday: Movie Night
8:00 PM
Every Thursday: Food Ministry
4:00 - 6:00 PM
Every Sunday: Strongholds Class
2:00 - 4:00 PM
Devotions
4:00 - 5:00 PM

What's A Blessing If You Can't Pass It On To Others In Need?

Since March 2003, I have been asked the same question over and over, "Where does the money come from that you use to help others in need?" Even though I have answered this question time and time again, it seems people don't listen or else they don't like the answer I give them. For whatever reason, people would like to hear that we are given money through donations and the kindness of a person's heart. Actually, I would like to think that as well, but the truth be told (once again,) donations of money are rare in our ministry.

So where does the money come from? For the most part, my pocket and God. Why do I say God? Because He blessed me with an incredibly loving Step-Father when I was 12 years old. At the age of 21, my "Dad" passed away and had included me in his Estate. From that time on, I was somewhat self-sufficient. I bought my own house, paid my own bills and still always had money left over.

So basically, each quarter of the year, I spend $9,000.00 out of pocket to help others. This breaks down to, in the past year+, a total of $36,000.00 out of pocket and $2500.00 donated from people in the community. But what it truly comes down to is that you can not be blessed with a gift from God, without blessing others.
Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."


Our Monthly Average Income & Expenses

Expenses: Monthly Average

Housing Cost We Help With
Rent $1,000.00
Electric $715.00
Phone $250.00
Food $1,350.00
Totals $3,315.00

Transportation
Gas $175.00
Bus Tokens $35.00
Totals $210.00

Medical
OTMC Fee $50.00
Medication $500.00
Totals $550.00

Miscellaneous
Postage $37.00
Stationery supplies $125.00
Paper products Etc. $100.00
Totals $262.00

Total Expenses $4,337.00



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