Do Not Despair Community Outreach Services & Ministries Inc

TUTORING OF MATH TO A DOZEN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ON A WEEKLY BASIS. CONDUCTING WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY FOR 10 - 12 YOUTHS, AGES 7 - 16 YEARS OF AGE. PAID SUMMER EXCURSIONS TO PARKS MOVIES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN SEASONAL ACTIVITIES CHRISTMAS AND HOLIDAY GIVEAWAYS SUMMER OUTREACH GRADUATION EVENTS PROVIDE SHELTER AND FOOD FOR THE LESS FORTUNATES DURING PERIODS OF NEEDS AMP CRISIS PROVIDE COUNSELING TO YOUNG ADULTS.

THE MOST EXPENSIVE MINISTRY OUTREACH WAS THE [:QUOTE:]BACK TO SCHOOL BASH[:QUOTE:] THAT WAS HELD AT LAKE TOHO PARK, IN KISSIMMEE, FL. ON AUGUST 8, 2015. OVER 50 FAMILIES ATTENDED THIS EVENT. WE SERVED HOT DOGS, CHIPS, AND SODAS. IN ADDITION TO BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLIES THAT WERE DISTRIBUTED TO OVER 150 STUDENTS, WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO SUPPLY DRESS CODE APPROPRIATE CLOTHING AND SHOES TO SOME OF THE MORE NEEDY FAMILIES IN THE AREA. THE EXPENSE FOR THE SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND THE CLOTHING GIVE-A-WAY INCURRED AN EXPENSE OF $1,334.74. THIS DID NOT INCLUDE THE ITEMS AND SUPPLIES THAT THE MINISTRY ALREADY HAD ON HAND, BUT RATHER NEW PURCHASES ONLY. THE FOOD FOR THIS EVENT, ALONG WITH THE MISCELLANEOUS SUPPLIES, ARE ACCOUNTED FOR IN DIFFERENT SECTIONS:(EVENT FOODS EVENT SUPPLIES EVENT MISCELLANEOUS)

THIS EVENT WAS OUR 2015 CHRISTMAS PARTY AND TOY/GIFT GIVE-A-WAY. THE EXPENDITURE OF $998.78 WAS USED FOR THE PURCHASE OF NEW AND LIKE-NEW TOYS, GIFT ITEMS, AND WINTER CLOTHING FOR 63 CHILDREN OF FAMILIES WHO PARTICIPATED IN ANY OF OUR PROGRAMS OR SERVICES DURING 2015. TOY AND GIFT DONATIONS BY MANY OF OUR LOCAL CHURCHES ALLOWED US TO PROVIDE GIFTS FOR TEENS AND PARENTS, AS WELL AS TODDLERS AND YOUNGSTERS. THE ADDITIONAL COST OF FOOD , BEVERAGES, AND MISCELLANEOUS SUPPLIES WERE ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE CATEGORIES OF: EVENT FOOD EVENT SUPPLIES EVENT MISCELLANEOUS. THE EXPENSE OF $998.78 INCLUDED NEW PURCHASES ONLY, AND DOES NOT REPRESENT ANY ITEMS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY THIS MINISTRY.

OUR NEXT MOST EXPENSIVE OUTREACH WAS NOT AN EVENT, BUT RATHER AN ON-GOING ACTIVITY OF BENEVOLENT CASH DONATIONS. OUR CASH DONATIONS THIS YEAR SURPASSED CASH DONATIONS IN THE PAST. FOR THIS REASON WE OPTED NOT TO HAVE A GRADUATION PARTY, OR A FALL FESTIVAL. WE FELT THE MONEY WAS BETTER USED TO HELP THOSE IN DIRE STRAINTS FINANCIALLY. NOT ONLY DID WE SUPPORT SEVERAL INMATES IN OUR PRISON MINISTRIES, BUT WE ALSO REACHED OUT TO SOME OF THEIR STRUGGLING FAMILY MEMBERS, IN TIMES OF NEED. THE FUNDS WERE USED FOR INMATE COMMISSARY, CO-PAYS FOR PRESCRIPTIONS, GAS MONEY FOR JOB SEARCH EFFORTS, CO-PAYS FOR DOCTOR VISITS BUS PASSES FOR JOB SEARCH EFFORTS DIAPERS FOR INFANTS ETC. FOR FAMILIES IN AND OUTSIDE OF OUR IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY. OUR BENEVOLENT CASH DONATIONS DURING 2015 REACHED $1,262.35

ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OUTREACHES IN 2015 WAS TO PROVIDE SHELTER ONCE AGAIN, FOR TWO DIFFERENT FAMILIES. THE HOUSE WAS SET UP TO HOUSE 2 RENTAL UNITS. THE FIRST FAMILY WAS AN UNEMPLOYED COUPLE WITH SIX CHILDREN. THEY OCCUPIED ONE OF THE UNITS FROM JANUARY THROUGH JUNE OF 2015. THEY WERE ALLOWED TO LIVE THERE RENT-FREE, WHILE SEEKING EMPLOYMENT AND SECURING A RENTAL ON THEIR OWN, ELSEWHERE. THEIR HOUSING WAS EXPENSED AT $600.00 PER MONTH, FOR 6 MONTHS, TOTALLING $3,600.00. THE SECOND FAMILY WAS A SINGLE MOM WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN. THEY LIVED IN THE SECOND UNIT FROM JANUARY THROUGH DECEMBER, EXPENSED AT THE SAME RATE: $600.00 PER MONTH, FOR 12 MONTHS, TOTALLING $7,200.00. THE FAMILIES WERE ONLY ASKED TO PAY THE COST OF THEIR UTILITIES. THIS HOUSE WOULD NORMALLY GENERATE A $1,200.00 MONTHLY INCOME, BUT IT WAS USED AS A SHELTER, AND EXPENSED AT THE NORMAL RENTAL RATE TOTALLING $10,800.00 DURING 2015.