|
As we start the new year, it is important to reflect on where we’ve been as well as where we’re going. In 2008, we created an organization out of a vision.
We formed a board of directors, established our organizational structure, crafted our mission statement, filed and received our 501c3 status, and began to solidify
the vision that God had laid on our hearts to serve the least, last and lost of Brevard County.
While our hearts were tugged in many directions, we believed that God had called us to a very specific mission for our first venture, to open a transitional shelter
for women with children, where we can provide the resources needed for our clients to attain self-sufficiency within a one- to two-year stay. These resources will
likely include education, health care, or legal help. Also needed is childcare, parenting education, life skills and job training. And finally, we will make
available mental health counseling, spiritual direction and supportive mentoring.
We will gather these resources from our own staff, volunteers and other non-profit agencies within the county in order to meet the needs of our individual families.
It has been said that “it takes a village to raise a child.” In our case, we will need a village to raise the village.
Our first need, then, is a building or large house where we can start housing families. We could also accept small houses where we could house individual families,
if that came available. Our funds on hand and committed to us are needed to provide services, so we really need to depend on donations of real estate (or no- or
low-rent arrangements) to be able to open our first facility. We are ready to begin once the land or building become available.
Meanwhile, we are providing assistance to single moms on an ad hoc basis. We have made referrals to other agencies for domestic violence and other situations.
We gather food and other resources for individual families that are referred to us.
While we are working on our long-term vision to have a facility where we can house and provide services to families under one roof, we have a plan for the short-term
that will help get us to our long term vision. In the next few months, we will begin to rent houses or apartments for families that agree to enter our New Life program.
Then, we will take the services they need to them. This will require volunteers to help get the housing ready and furnished, and to provide transportation and child care as needed.
As we develop our budget for how many families we can help at this time, we need to begin developing monthly donors. WOULD YOU CONSIDER COMMITTING TO A MONTHLY DONATION to
help us provide the needed housing and services for these moms and kids? These funds, along with the funds that were generously donated in 2008, will provide rent,
child care subsidies and services to some of our neediest neighbors. In addition to these funds, we will need furniture and household items as we prepare properties
for families. We also need some of you to be part of our fund-raising team to host and or organize events that will help bring attention to our cause.
Please contact me at Stacia@BrevardRescueMission.org to let me know how you feel like God is calling you to participate. Thank you in advance for being part of “the village.”
Thank you for your generous hearts,
Blessings,
Stacia Glavas
stacia@brevardrescuemission.org
|
