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Published: Monday, November
17, 2008 12:02 PM CST
Editor's note: This
is the second in a series of three articles about Mission Outreach and
its impact in the community, their needs and their goals. Each article
will run with a success story from residents at the mission or at the
mission's Charitable Clinic.
Most days, Jamie Collins can't even get out of her car before her
workday at Mission Outreach begins.
Just pulling in the parking lot, employees can see the day's work ahead.
People needing help are already lined up at the door of the mission.
Some days, the lines are exceptionally long. The people watch for
employees to arrive "because they are in a crisis, and whatever their
issue is," Collins said, "to them it doesn’t matter, because it's huge
and they need it addressed right now."
Collins, executive director of the mission, said when she pulls in the
parking lot, she's already negotiating how she going to get out of her
car.
"Most of the time somebody is trying to open my car door before I've
even got it unlocked," Collins said.
The small staff at the mission have a structured and regimented daily
routine. Without the routine and the dozens of people in daily need of
assistance, the mission would be in utter chaos.
But an established system keeps the mission running
smoothly.
"There's an agenda already set for the day," Collins said. "But crises
are going to pop up."
The residents of the mission know the agenda, and what will occur on any
given day of the week. Scheduled events occur certain days of the week,
such as trips to temporary jobs agencies, the health department,
doctor's appointments and the Department of Human Services.
"There is something established for every given day," Collins said.
"They know what will take place."
From food preparation in the kitchen to paperwork, it is a non-stop
ministry of providing hope and the opportunity to help those in crisis
get back on their feet.
But there are limitations that "prevent us from accomplishing all the
day to day things we need to accomplish," Collins explained.
The facilities are old, and there are numerous structural issues with
the building. Lack of space hinders the education classes the mission
would like to establish.
Housing quarters are limited, Collins said, and "there's not enough room
for everything." She added, there is a great need to have more
separation of the different populations that stay at the mission.
Several years ago, a major corporation that wants to remain anonymous at
this point, approached the director at Mission Outreach. Collins said
they had heard about the work the mission was doing within the city of
Paragould and the surrounding area. They asked to visit the mission.
After the visit, Collins said, those in the corporation that visited
said, "Now that we've visited, we can't believe you are doing what
you're doing !- We
would like to offer you some funds to help you step up and accomplish in
a greater way what you are doing and step up another level."
Collins said they offered a planning grant, which provided Mission
Outreach with a development consultant, a construction consultant and an
architectural consultant, "with a long-range goal of a new facility."
She said, "So we have to prove, if not to this foundation, but to others
who help us, that we have a community that supports this operation."
It is important to the staff at Mission Outreach that the community
understands the ultimate goal of the ministry to equip residents to
become independent and functioning residents of the community. The
mission’s purpose was never meant to be a handout.
"It’s not a band-aid," Collins said, adding that it was never meant to
be.
Each resident has an interview with Collins before entering the
mission's program. Cathy Hall Hughes, who came on staff in July and
serves as the mission's development director, sat in on several of those
interviews when she first arrived in order to get an idea of the needs
of the people.
She said it was extremely difficult to listen to the stories of what
brought the people to the mission.
Collins estimates 65-90 percent of the people served by the mission do
not come from a stable environment. Generally, it was severely lacking
in their childhood.
"They were not taught day to day decision making skills and life
strategies," Collins explained. "Instead, they were experiencing things
no child ought to have to experience and they have experienced some
things that at the moment, set them up to be a candidate for intensive
care, because there is no way that they have the ability to overcome
it."
The mission then becomes a type of "surrogate parent," Collins said. And
that process of change that needs to occur does not happen overnight.
Adults may have many issues "boiling inside," she said. "Successful
ministry takes place over a longer period of time."
Sometimes the clients are not ready for the regiment of life, and they
leave the mission. But Collins said, "I know they will be back because
they do not have the skills to stand alone."
When they return, Collins said, "We talk about what can be different
this time."
Sometimes, they leave again and return again.
"It's not always a quick fix," she said.
But Mission Outreach needs the community's help, Hughes said.
The soup kitchen that opens at 5 p.m. is open to the community as well.
"They know they will come here and no questions asked - If you are
hungry, we will feed you."
This offers an opportunity for churches and civic groups to provide a
meal, and a listening ear.
She said someone asked her recently what the mission is doing for the
resident's spiritual needs.
"This would be an excellent way to minister," Hughes said. "Show up -
show these folks Christ."
Collins added it is not whether or not the people would starve if they
didn't come for the meal.
"It's about are they going to survive," she said. "Survival takes place
on an emotional level and mental level just as much as it does on a
physical level."
She views it as a larger indicator of "how hungry people really are, not
for food, but for someone that can make a difference in their lives."
Seeing them in the soup line is no different from them holding up a
sign, Collins said, that asks "Does anybody how where I live? Would
anybody stop by and see me and look beyond what you may see with the
naked eye when you walk through the door?"
"Do you see me?"
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