Thank you for your support of Mission Outreach!

Please feel free to forward this report to others who might be interested in our ministry.

 

Current Statistics

• Emergency Shelter Residents today: 40   7 children, 13 females, 20 males    

• Soup Kitchen Meals served to date:  18,467   Served since last week: 836

• Food Boxes distributed to date:  2513

• Medical Clinic patients this month: 37     To date:  593  

• Prescriptions filled this month: 112      To date:  1445

• Individuals receiving financial assistance for utility, rent, transportation and prescription assistance: 428

 

836. That’s right – 836 meals were fed from our Soup Kitchen within the last week. Here in Greene County there are many families who don’t have enough food to eat. Last night we fed right at 150 people, and those numbers will continue to be large through the end of the month.

 

Economic crisis or not, this is America . We are the land of plenty! There is no reason for a child to go hungry. Statistics from the Center on Hunger and Poverty tell us that here in Arkansas , one in four children (that’s177,805 kids) lives in poverty and 128,000 suffer from hunger.

 

There’s a simple thing you can do to help feed children right here in Paragould :

 

Bring us a box of cereal. Or two. Or three. Would you rather provide macaroni and cheese? Prefer to donate peanut butter and jelly? That’ll work too – we just want to make sure we can provide kid friendly food to all those who come to us for help.

 

What if everyone in your office decided to participate?

What if everyone in your Sunday School class or club contributed?

Food for thought, isn’t it?

 

Looking for an opportunity for hands-on ministry?

 

Come join the Common Table by providing dinner, a listening ear and an open heart to those we serve. Have you scheduled a date to participate? We look forward to your involvement in the coming months. Don’t miss this blessing!

Call Cathy at 236.8080 or chughes@missionoutreachnea.com for additional information.

 

Last week I wrote about David, the 18 year old who recently came to live at the mission. What I was unaware of is how much help had been offered to him through the foster care program. My story was intended to introduce you to one of the young people who live with us, but in doing so, I unknowingly insulted the good work done by the Department of Human Services.

Foster families and the children who live with them are not “one size fits all” and many of these situations are complicated. We have been in touch with the foster parents and with David’s case worker and discovered he was provided with many services over the years. We also learned that David chose to leave home on his own. He has begun day treatment now, and we pray that he will continue to grow and move towards a brighter future.

 

We are grateful to be part of Paragould Light Water and Cable’s Round Up for Life program.

Thank you to all who make this gift possible.

 

 

Thank you, First Baptist Church of Paragould, for your generous donation

of items left over from last winter’s ice storm shelter.

 

Pictured above is a youth group from Norphlett , Arkansas (close to El Dorado ).

 These young people came as part of a mission trip to cook, serve in the soup line, clean and do odd jobs around Mission Outreach. We appreciate you so much and hope you’ll return on future trips!