Our Hands His Heart Inc

IN 2021 WE BEGAN A SLOW MOVEMENT OUT FROM THE PANDEMIC WHILE STILL DEALING WITH MANY OF THE SAME ISSUES AS 2022:A) WE DISTRIBUTED FOOD TO 18 FAMILIES ONCE A MONTH. THIS DISTRIBUTION HELPED BOTH SENIOR ADULTS AND FAMILIES WITH THEIR MONTHLY FOOD NEED.B) WE CONTINUED A WEEKLY MINISTRY THAT ALLOWED FOR US TO HELP PROVIDE FOR THE FOOD NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN IN OUR AREA, ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMER. AT FIRST FAMILIES DROVE BY AND PICKED UP FOOD BUT DURING THE SUMMER WE BEGAN TO CHANGE OUR STRATEGY. WE HAD EVENTS LIKE CLOWNS, BUBBLE TRUCKS, WATER SLIDES, AND LUNCH FOR THE FAMILY ONE DAY A WEEK. ON THAT DAY WE WOULD PROVIDE BACKPACKS FOR 75 CHILDREN. THIS BACKPACK WAS FILLED WITH BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND SNACKS FOR THE CHILDREN. THEY WOULD TAKE THE BACKPACK EACH WEEK AND THEN RETURN IT FOR ANOTHER BACKPACK AT THE NEXT EVENT. THIS WAS A WEEKLY MINISTRY. THE FOOD PROVIDED WAS BOUGHT AT STORES WITH THE INTENTION OF HAVING MORE NUTRITIONAL VALUE THAN THE LOCAL FOOD BANK MIGHT PROVIDE. C) WE PROVIDED A BACK-TO-SCHOOL EVENT FOR THE FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN TO RECEIVE BACKPACKS, RECEIVE FOOD (FOR THE FAMILY), SCHOOL SUPPLIES, NEW SHOES, AND TOILETRY ITEMS. THIS EVENT PROVIDED FOR THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL NEEDS OF 200 CHILDREN.D) PROVIDED A VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL/SPIRITUAL EDUCATION EVENT FOR A WEEK. THIS EVENT WAS CREATED TO HELP THE FAMILIES IN THE AREA WITH SPIRITUAL TRUTHS AND FELLOWSHIP. IN 2021 WE WERE WORKING TO BRING FAMILIES BACK TOGETHER AGAIN AFTER A YEAR OF SOCIAL DISTANCING. THEY LEARNED BIBLE TRUTHS, SONGS, AND RECEIVED ENCOURAGEMENT AS THE CHILDREN AND ADULTS WORKED TOGETHER IN A FAMILY ATMOSPHERE.E) IN EARLY DECEMBER WE HELD A MINISTRY EVENT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. WHILE THEY WERE ABLE TO HEAR THE CHRISTMAS STORY AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM THEY RECEIVED CERTAIN ITEMS TO HELP THEM MAKE IT THROUGH THE WINTER MONTHS. THESE ITEMS WERE: NEW SHOES, FOOD, LIGHTLY USED CLOTHING, BLANKETS AND ANY SCHOOL SUPPLIES THAT THE CHILDREN MIGHT HAVE NEEDED. IN ADDITION, EACH CHILD RECEIVED A SMALL CHRISTMAS GIFT. MOST OF OUR FAMILIES LIVE IN MOBILE HOMES SO BLANKETS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE WINTER MINISTRY.F) DURING CHRISTMAS WE PROVIDED FOOD FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN THAT WE IN A FOOD INSECURE HOME. G) WE HELD A HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY THAT SERVED HUNDREDS. WE PROVIDED GAMES, CANDY, AND PRIZES FOR THE FAMILIES WHO PARTICIPATED.* MUCH OF OUR MINISTRY STILL REVOLVED AROUND SUPPLING FOOD FOR THE FAMILIES IN THE LAWSON/SOUTHEAST DALLAS COMMUNITY AS THEY CONTINUED TO STRUGGLE WITH THE BASIC NEEDS DURING THE PANDEMIC. THE BACKPACK MINISTRY WAS A WEEKLY KEY TO KEEPING CHILDREN ENGAGED IN OUTSIDE ACTIVITY AS WELL AS WITH SNACKS THAT HAD SOME HEALTH BENEFIT.WE MINISTER IN WHAT IS CONSIDERED A FOOD DESERT; VERY FEW LARGE GROCERY STORE OPTIONS.