Volunteers
Mission staff member brings the fight against poverty to Haiti
Cite Soleil, Haiti, is one of the poorest and most dangerous places in the Western Hemisphere. An estimated 200,000–400,000 residents live in the community, and the majority of these people live in extreme poverty. It is so bad, in fact, that People’s City Mission staff member Richard Gervais said that, in comparison, “We have no idea what poverty is in America.”
Gervais recently returned from a trip to Cite Soleil, where he worked with a pastor who runs an orphanage in the community. Once an orphan himself, this pastor opened his home to children whose parents died in the Haiti earthquake in 2010. Gervais had the opportunity to visit the orphanage and minister to the children and individuals from the surrounding community.
impacted by poverty,” said Gervais. “And had I not known that there is hope in Jesus for these people, it would have been very easy to look at things with hopelessness. I am grateful for the lives that we were able to touch and that we could see God’s love and power at work in a very dark and difficult environment like Cite Soleil.”
- Category: Volunteers
Volunteers gather linens for children at the Mission
The Christmas season has been dubbed “the most wonderful time of the year,” and rightfully so. Generally, we’re all a little happier, a little more cheerful, around the holidays. And for many, the end of the year is a time not only to celebrate, but also to help take care of those who do not have as much as we do. This is true for Mission volunteer Betty. Betty is a member of a retired teacher’s group here in Lincoln. Each Christmas, the organization donates toys and clothing for children at the Mission. This year, however, Betty heard that the Mission typically gives guests linens to take with them when they leave the shelter, and her immediate thought was of how that would impact the kids who might be leaving the shelter as well.
“Every teacher wants children to have a good, clean place to sleep,” Betty said. She says that, as a teacher, the kids at the Mission hold a special place in her heart. So she turned to her teacher’s group for help making sure every child who left the Mission’s shelter did so with the resources they needed to stay clean and warm. Prior to December, the group collected 42 sets of sheets.
“I hope we surprised [Pastor] Tom,” Betty said. “I hope he thinks that’s great.” She had the chance to hear what Pastor Tom thought when he came to speak at a group gathering on December 11. At that particular event, attendees brought towels that will also be donated to Mission guests. Betty’s work promoting the collection and the generosity of her fellow retired teachers will mean many children have a better chance of leaving the Mission for an environment that is still clean and safe.
- Category: Volunteers
1011 reports: Thanksgiving meal served at People's City Mission
"The holidays can be a stressful time of the year, especially for those struggling to make ends meet. Thanks to the People's City Mission, everyone could enjoy a Thanksgiving feast.
Families and friends in need came together at the People's City Mission for a much appreciated holiday meal. Volunteers served up yams, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and of course...turkey."
Click here to read the full story.
This Thanksgiving, the Mission was blessed with the support of more than 100 volunteers, who helped us serve more than 2,850 meals to the homeless and near homeless in Lincoln. We want to thank each of those volunteers, as well as all those who sacrifice their time and talents to help us care for the homeless in our community.
- Category: Volunteers , Events
