Plymouth Street Ministry Note June 12, 2015
Its a privilege to be able to help families and individuals we encounter when they are in need. Its what we do and with your help and support, we're all making a difference. We're busy all day and every day with these folks as well as the people we see on our usual Tuesday and Friday evenings on the street. We are in significant need of help, however, and are hoping and praying that you will consider again contributing to the ministry in some way. Our days are long, some days up to 16-18 hours, we would welcome help. There are wonderful volunteers for the evenings on the street but we're needing volunteers for other times and in different capacities. Nothing we do is predictable and our best laid plans are increasingly being altered. Financially, the Ministry is in need of donations.
I will list the needs at the end of my note, first I'd like to share the street ministry's happenings:
As an update, the family with nine children seem to be OK. They did nearly run out of baby formula due to the mother missing at appointment with WIC so the Ministry purchased them enough formula to get by until the appointment next week. I will personally ensure that the next appointment is not missed so that there is no concern of the baby going hungry. We will start talking, teaching and encouraging independence so that they do not rely on us and we do not enable dependency.
While at our post on Tuesday evening, we were approached by a man who has a wife and children who are living in a camper near Augusta. The man works here and there as a mechanic and the wife drives to Bloomer for work. One child has significant medical needs. The man took shoes and whatever else we could provide at the time, he left us a list of things they need help obtaining. Michelle from Feed My People did supply them with information about pantries and we hope that will aid in that need. Storage space and freezer space is limited but it sounded like food is a concern for this family.
The Ministry has been shepherding a couple of people who had been on the street for years and that we helped obtained housing for approximately 1 1/2 years ago. On Thursday, the Ministry received a call from the man (who suffers from rapidly advancing dementia) saying he was lost. Too shorten the story, we brought him to a local hospital and ultimately placed under a protective order (chapter 55). He may struggle with the drastic change but he is now safe.
I received a call from a woman that has been a part of the ministry's life off and on for a number of years. She recently had a baby and had nearly run out of diapers. We provided a package for the infant as well as for her toddler. We have multiple packages of size 2 diapers but needed to purchase size 5 diapers.
We also are continuing to shepherd the family that we've watched for quite some time, they have 6 children. They are doing well, both parents are hard workers and they don't frequently ask for anything but still the Ministry provides time and occasionally we provide a package of diapers or any other help that we can.
If you read a recent journal, you may be aware of a young woman who we're caring for who left a dangerous situation that involved drugs and forced sex work. She now is enjoying being in a positive environment and has gained some hope in her life. She was able to obtain a job on Thursday. Our most pressing issue with her is that she's going to need housing. The ministry has provided funds to keep her sheltered for several nights but can no longer continue doing that, financially its simply not possible. The local shelter is not a viable option mainly because of her being exposed to some possible street people that might not have her best interest in mind and because of her tragic resent history, we will not subject her to any more potential trauma and put her in any degree of danger.
Much of what we have discussed above can be found in our recent Street Journal dated June 8, 2015.
As always, we are sending a heartfelt thank you to all of you who support the ministry. We truly couldn't do it without you.
Karen
The Street Ministry's wish list:
Its a privilege to be able to help families and individuals we encounter when they are in need. Its what we do and with your help and support, we're all making a difference. We're busy all day and every day with these folks as well as the people we see on our usual Tuesday and Friday evenings on the street. We are in significant need of help, however, and are hoping and praying that you will consider again contributing to the ministry in some way. Our days are long, some days up to 16-18 hours, we would welcome help. There are wonderful volunteers for the evenings on the street but we're needing volunteers for other times and in different capacities. Nothing we do is predictable and our best laid plans are increasingly being altered. Financially, the Ministry is in need of donations.
I will list the needs at the end of my note, first I'd like to share the street ministry's happenings:
As an update, the family with nine children seem to be OK. They did nearly run out of baby formula due to the mother missing at appointment with WIC so the Ministry purchased them enough formula to get by until the appointment next week. I will personally ensure that the next appointment is not missed so that there is no concern of the baby going hungry. We will start talking, teaching and encouraging independence so that they do not rely on us and we do not enable dependency.
While at our post on Tuesday evening, we were approached by a man who has a wife and children who are living in a camper near Augusta. The man works here and there as a mechanic and the wife drives to Bloomer for work. One child has significant medical needs. The man took shoes and whatever else we could provide at the time, he left us a list of things they need help obtaining. Michelle from Feed My People did supply them with information about pantries and we hope that will aid in that need. Storage space and freezer space is limited but it sounded like food is a concern for this family.
The Ministry has been shepherding a couple of people who had been on the street for years and that we helped obtained housing for approximately 1 1/2 years ago. On Thursday, the Ministry received a call from the man (who suffers from rapidly advancing dementia) saying he was lost. Too shorten the story, we brought him to a local hospital and ultimately placed under a protective order (chapter 55). He may struggle with the drastic change but he is now safe.
I received a call from a woman that has been a part of the ministry's life off and on for a number of years. She recently had a baby and had nearly run out of diapers. We provided a package for the infant as well as for her toddler. We have multiple packages of size 2 diapers but needed to purchase size 5 diapers.
We also are continuing to shepherd the family that we've watched for quite some time, they have 6 children. They are doing well, both parents are hard workers and they don't frequently ask for anything but still the Ministry provides time and occasionally we provide a package of diapers or any other help that we can.
If you read a recent journal, you may be aware of a young woman who we're caring for who left a dangerous situation that involved drugs and forced sex work. She now is enjoying being in a positive environment and has gained some hope in her life. She was able to obtain a job on Thursday. Our most pressing issue with her is that she's going to need housing. The ministry has provided funds to keep her sheltered for several nights but can no longer continue doing that, financially its simply not possible. The local shelter is not a viable option mainly because of her being exposed to some possible street people that might not have her best interest in mind and because of her tragic resent history, we will not subject her to any more potential trauma and put her in any degree of danger.
Much of what we have discussed above can be found in our recent Street Journal dated June 8, 2015.
As always, we are sending a heartfelt thank you to all of you who support the ministry. We truly couldn't do it without you.
Karen
The Street Ministry's wish list:
- *** Money ***
- Food cards
- Gas cards
- Diapers, all sizes
- Pull-ups -- size med
- Baby wipes
- Baby formula, any brand
- *** Volunteers ***
- on the street
- help organize the storeroom
- visit families or individuals
- *** Short term housing for young woman, consider even a few nights. She must stay safe! ***
- Shelving units, boxes, bins for storeroom needs
- Tennis shoes, clean and in good shape, M/F
- Hoodies, planning for next winter. Completely out of L, XL + sizes
- Socks, Underwear for both M/F, need boxers and briefs for the men
- Shorts -- Men and women, athletic / elastic waist
- Work boots -- men, size 8-9, clean and good shape