Five Star Come As You Are Emergency Shelter…The Vision with Re-Vision
The Old Savannah City Mission continues with the vision of establishing a five star come as you are emergency shelter for homeless women and homeless women with children. I am totally convinced that even the resistance from neighbors, the duplicity and indecisiveness of public “servants,” and even the wear and tear of pressing in ALL falls under the Romans 8:28. J.B. Phillips translates this verse, “…we know that to those who love God, who are called according to his plan, everything that happens fits into a pattern for good.” Even the push-back has served to push the project forward. I am neither discouraged nor disappointed. The Mission belongs to God and is His instrument which draws His people together so that in unity we can do the “stuff” that Jesus did. The women and children’s shelter is dear to the heart of Father God and to many connected with the Old Savannah City Mission. If you are not yet connected, now is a good time to do so.
Exclusively for Homeless Women and Children
Shelter for Homeless Women & Children
The Old Savannah City Mission is seizing the opportunity to open a five star come as you are emergency shelter for women and children. The shelter will be located at 1116 Mills B. Lane where one of the Mission’s three Bargain Centers is now located. God willing the Mission is able to make the following advancements.
The Fresh Start program for women will move from the Mission’s facilities on 34th Street (A Place Called Home) to the Mills B. Lane location. These students will serve sheltered homeless women and children as the male students serve homeless men in the emergency shelter at the 2414 Bull Street location. The facilities on 34th Street will serve as an emergency shelter for homeless families. This enables the Mission to provide emergency shelter to homeless men, women, children and homeless families. This is a breakthrough for the community as well as the Mission.
In the City of Savannah there are only 28 emergency shelter beds for destitute women. These are available on a walk-in basis at the Inner City Night Shelter. Other than these beds, there are no walk-in emergency shelter beds for women and children in the care of their mother or guardian.
In 2008 Chatham – Savannah Housing Authority served 5,530 homeless people. This number is not a count of times of service, but of individuals served. And, of these homeless individuals 1,548 were women and 774 were children. The January 23, 2011 edition of the Savannah Morning News (SMN) reports the enrollment of homeless students in Savannah’s public schools as 669. That number does not count many destitute children who are disconnected from the school system and are in need of emergency shelter.
There are a few residential programs which serve homeless women; however, they require assessments and qualifications which are often beyond the reach of the neediest. There are services for women who have experienced domestic violence or who need a residence during their pregnancy. Park Place Youth Emergency Outreach provides emergency shelter for 70 to 100 run-aways, homeless, abandoned and neglected children ages 11 to 17 each year.” (SMN, January 23, 2011). There are no emergency shelter beds for children who are homeless. Inner-Faith Hospitality provides emergency shelter services for homeless families.
The Old Savannah City Mission’s five star come as you are shelter will serve homeless women and children regardless of their circumstances. If they need shelter and are willing to comply with the Mission’s high standards, strong boundaries and clear direction, including zero tolerance for drugs, alcohol, tobacco, violence and threat of violence, there will be shelter for them free of charge. As at the shelter for men at 2414 Bull Street no one will be turned away with the exception of individuals who represent a danger or disruption of service to others.
How soon will this shelter open? God willing and generous, compassionate people giving the shelter can be open before Christmas 2011. This represents a tremendous advancement for the Old Savannah City Mission. A Place Called Home on 34th Street will provide shelter for 4 homeless families.
The challenge is funding.
The conceptual cost of this project including significant structural modifications, in particular at the Mills B. Lane location, staffing and operational costs for one year is $850,000. With these funds the Mission will construct dorms, furnish them with beds, dressers, night stands, lamps, install a commercial kitchen, adequate bathrooms, chapel, common areas for women and an equipped recreational area for children.
In 2010 your donations provided over 125,000 meals and more than 28,000 emergency shelter beds for men along with many other vital services…all without one dime of tax payer or United Way funding. Much good is done through the many public and United Way funded agencies; however, the Old Savannah City Mission opts out of the necessary restrictions that rightfully come with funds administered by the government or distributed through United Way. It is correct to disallow such resources to be used to advance any religion. As a faith based 501(c)(3) charity the Old Savannah City Mission must share the Gospel freely with those who are down and out.
We must have your help. In anticipation of your most kind and generous support, you will have the profound gratitude of our friends and neighbors who are temporarily without a place to call home.
Donations can be mailed to OSCM, P.O. Box 16839, Savannah, GA 31416. For information, contact Jim Lewis (912) 655-5118, jimlewis@oscm; Connell Stiles, (912) 346-0781, stiles@oscm.org; Bill Stiles, (912) 441-8820, westiles@oscm.org.; www.oscm.org.
DAY OF GREAT THANKSGIVING SATURDAY, NOV. 20
The Old Savannah City Mission’s Day of Great Thanksgiving draws volunteers from throughout the Coastal Empire and Low Country. In 2009 over 800 volunteers assisted in serving 6,248 delicious smoked turkey dinners to folks who were going through hard times…including homeless, poor and struggling families.
The occasion brought a measure of unity to the community.
The 2010 Day of Great Thanksgiving is a double-header…first in Savannah in Forsyth Park meals will be served from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Then its STATESBORO’S FIRST DAY OF GREAT THANKSGIVING under the big tent on Hyw 80 East near Lowe’s. Between the two sites we are prepared to serve over 10,000 meals…ALL WITHOUT ONE DIME OF TAXPAYER FUNDING.
A Hint to the Wise….
The adage, “A hint to the wise is sufficient” is appropriate to this tidbit of news…within the next 10 days the Mission is scheduled to receive a very, very nice donation of top quality wood furniture. All items will be sold at thrift store prices. Inquire at any one of the Mission’s three Bargain Centers.
Three BARGAIN CENTERS
The Mission faced a “marketing challenge.” The accelerated growth of thrift sales blinded us to the development of three outlets with three different names. In an effort to focus our efforts of gaining visibility, we re-named all three locations, BARGAIN CENTER. Thus, we have The Bargain Center at 2424 Bull Street, The Bargain Center at 5501 Abercorn Street and The Bargain Center at 1116 W. Mills B. Lane. Visit www.oscm.org for more information.
Friends of those in need,
The Day of Great Thanksgiving is the Old Savannah City Mission’s annual signature event. It has been celebrated since 1997 on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Plans are under way for our 13th Annual Day of Great Thanksgiving (DOGT). This year we are doing something new and exciting. God has enlarged our vision and borders. On Saturday, November 20 we will celebrate the Day of Great Thanksgiving as always in beautiful Forsyth Park AND in Statesboro on the campus of the Statesboro Church of God, 23923 US Hwy 80 E. Between the two sites we are expecting to serve 8,000 delicious smoked turkey dinners. This is intended to give thanks to God praise and worship and to bring UNITY to our community.
In 2009, with the assistance of over 800 volunteers, the Mission provided 6,248 delicious smoked turkey dinners for our community’s most vulnerable citizens. These are folks who most likely would not have enjoyed a Thanksgiving meal if the Mission had not provided it. This year the economic will push more people to this event.
I hope you will be able to attend a planning/orientation meeting scheduled for Statesboro’s Day of Great Thanksgiving at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 5 at the Statesboro Church of God (23923 US Hwy 80 East). Your participation in the planning and orientation is essential for the success of this event. You may have questions. Your questions are important because you are important. Also, you will get learn about the Mission and be able to connect with other key volunteers. Please plan your schedule to allow at least one hour for this meeting. Of course, you can send a representative if you are not able to attend.
The Day of Great Thanksgiving replicates the First Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims had struggled and had almost starved. The Native Americans “rescued” them and after a plenteous harvest, they shared a meal and gave thanks to God Almighty. In spite of our struggles, let us join together to share a meal with the less fortunate and give thanks to God Almighty. May God bless America!
GRAND OPENING OF “FURNITURE WAREHOUSE SALES” FRIDAY, JAN. 30
“FURNITURE WAREHOUSE SALES”
1116 West 52nd Street
Old Savannah City Mission has received over 4,000 pieces of quality furniture in excellent condition. Donations include over 500 sofas, hundreds of tables, desks, armoires, beds, bar stools, entertainment centers, nightstands, dinette tables, thousands of dining and occasional chairs plus many other high quality items of oak and steel…not one piece is made of pressboard!
“Times are tough. Cash donations have dipped. Needs for services have spiked up. However, God is our Resource. He has surprised us again. This unexpected donation of furniture will help us help a lot of folks. If you need furniture you will great bargains and at the same time help the Mission feed the hungry and shelter the homeless right here in our community. You can shop for a great cause at the Mission’s new Furniture Warehouse Sales located at 1116 West 52nd Street.” Rev. Jim Lewis, Executive Director of the Mission.
The Mission’s “Furniture Warehouse Sales.” is open to the public from 12:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Individuals, churches, non-profits, businesses and wholesalers are welcome.
The Mission will celebrate the GRAND OPENING OF “FURNITURE WAREHOUSE SALES” on Friday, January 30.
● Community leaders and friends of the media are invited at 11:00 a.m.
● The Furniture Warehouse Sales will open to the public at 12:00 p.m.
Other furniture is also available through Dorcas & Esther’s, the Mission’s thrift shop located in the Mission annex at 2414 Bull Street.
Contact Rev. Jim Lewis or Mrs. Connell Stiles at (912) 232-1979 or 655-5118.
Email: JimLewis@oscm.org, Stiles@oscm.org, www.oscm.org
If you are interested in volunteering to help the Mission serve those in need, please call (912) 232-1979.
Old Savannah City Mission is located at 2414 Bull Street. It is Savannah’s Five Star Gospel Rescue Mission. The Mission provided over 113,000 meals and 28,000 nights of shelter in 2008. The Mission receives no public funds and it is not a United Way Agency. It depends upon people of goodwill, churches and community-minded businesses.
Mission’s warehouse located at 1116 West 52nd Street
Although the Grand Opening of the Furniture Warehouse Outlet is scheduled for Friday, January 30; the Mission is receiving thousands of pieces of furniture in excellent conditions. Interested buyers may call the Mission (912) 232-1979, ext. 203 and arrange a review with Mrs. Connell Stiles, the Mission Director of Development.
