Love Inc - Staunton-Waynesboro-Augusta

FAITH-BASED SERVICES FOR THE NEEDY. MOBILIZING CHURCHES TO TRANSFORM LIVES AND COMMUNITIES.

LOVE INC THRIFT SHOPPE - ON AUGUST 28, 2017 WE OPENED OUR SECOND THRIFT SHOP IN THE TOWN OF STUARTS DRAFT, A THRIVING COMMUNITY WITHIN OUR SERVICE AREA. TO ITS FORMAL NAME WE HAVE DELIBERATELY ADDED THE PHRASE "A GATHERING PLACE" TO EMPHASIZE THAT IT IS MORE THAN JUST A THRIFT SHOPPE. JUST LIKE OUR SISTER STORE (TREASURES FOR LOVE), WE ENVISIONED IT AS A WARM AND FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT FOR MODELING THE LOVE OF CHRIST TO ALL WHO ENTER, AS WELL AS AN EXCELLENT PLACE TO FIND BARGAINS ON A WIDE SPECTRUM OF DONATED GOODS. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE OPERATION IS TO GENERATE REVENUE TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM SERVICES AS IDENTIFIED IN THIS RETURN. AN EQUALLY IMPORTANT PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHURCH CONGREGATION MEMBERS TO EXPERIENCE THE JOYS OF HANDS-ON COMMUNITY MINISTRY. AS A RESULT, THE THRIFT SHOPPE VERY QUICKLY BECAME A PART OF THE THE WOVEN FABRIC OF THIS WARM AND FRIENDLY SMALL TOWN, AND HAS RETURNED TO PRE- PANDEMIC DAYS OF OPERATION AT 6 DAYS PER WEEK.

TREASURES FOR LOVE RESALE STORE: IN MID-JULY OF 2013 THE ORGANIZATION OPENED A RETAIL LOCATION TO SELL CERTAIN DONATED GOODS TO THE COMMUNITY. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE OPERATION IS TO GENERATE REVENUE TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM SERVICES AS IDENTIFIED IN THIS RETURN. AN EQUALLY IMPORTANT PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHURCH CONGREGATION MEMBERS TO EXPERIENCE THE JOYS OF HANDS-ON COMMUNITY MINISTRY. THE OPERATION WAS PHASED BACK IN BEGINNING ON JUNE 10 FOR LIMITED HOURS, AND RESTORED TO 5 DAYS PER WEEK ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2020. THE GOAL IS TO RETURN TO 6 DAYS PER WEEK DURING LATE DECEMBER - EARLY JANUARY.

NEIGHBORS IN NEED: OUR ORGANIZATION PARTNERS WITH LOCAL CHURCHES BY FILLING GAPS IN COMMUNITY SERVICES. IN 2020, THE PROGRAM WAS DEEPLY IMPACTED BY COVID, BUT IT HAS REGROWN DURING 2021. AFTER ASSESSING AND QUALIFYING NEEDS, WE MAY ALSO REFER PARTICIPANTS TO OTHER AGENCIES FOR SERVICES.

TRAINING --IN ORDER TO ASSURE THAT STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS ARE EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE ALL SERVICES WITH EXCELLENCE, A TRAINING PROGRAM WAS INITIATED DURING 2015 AND CONTINUED IN 2019. THE GOAL FOR THE MINISTRY WAS TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR WORK WITH NEIGHBORS, AND TO PROVIDE A BASELINE FOR HOW WE AS A MINISTRY GO ABOUT PROVIDING GOODS AND SERVICES TO THOSE WE SERVE. WE ALSO CONTINUED TO OFFER THE REDEMPTIVE COMPASSION COURSE THAT WAS BEGUN IN 2016. IN 2021 WE OFFERED 11 OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS EIGHT-WEEK CLASS THAT WAS ATTENDED BY 115 PARTICIPANTS FROM AREA CHURCHES, AS WELL ASD FROM OTHER STATES AS 3 CLASSES WERE VIRTUAL AND WERE TAUGHT BY 3 VOLUNTEER TEACHERS. PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED LAY MEMBERS OF CHURCHES, CHURCH LEADERS,AND ORDAINED PASTORS. THIS PARTICULAR TRAINING IS DESIGNED TO HELP PARTICIPANTS DISCOVER HOW THEY INDIVIDUALLY VIEW CHARITY,AND TEACH THEM TO LOOK AT IT HOLISTICLY, HELPING THEM TO DEVELOP THAT KIND OF APPROACH TO HELPING THOSE IN NEED. THIS TRAINING HAS LED TO GREATER VOLUNTEERISM THROUGHOUT THE MINISTRY, BUT ESPECIALLY WITHIN OUR LOVING YOUR NEIGHBOR PROGRAM. WEEKLY STAFF MEETINGS CONTINUED DURING 2021. A NEW ACTIVITY UNDER THIS HEADING FOR 2020 WAS "STAFF VALUE TIMES" WHICH CONTINUED THROUGH 2021. THESE ARE INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND STAFF MEMBERS, HELD EVERY TWO WEEKS. THE FOCUS IS ON PERSONAL, SPIRITUAL, PROFESSIONAL CONNECTIONS, AND PHYSICAL WELLBEING. WE ALSO BEGAN PARTICIPATING IN NATIONAL EXCHANGE CALLS HOSTED BY STAFF OF LOVE INC NATIONAL. THESE ARE CALLS FOCUSING ON MATTERS OF INTEREST TO NOT ONLY NATIONAL STAFF, BUT TO LOCAL STAFF AS WELL. CHURCH RELATIONS & DEVELOPMENT -- OUR PRIMARY MINISTRY FOCUS IS TO MOBILIZE CHURCHES TO CHANGE LIVES AND COMMUNITIES. TO BE CERTAIN WE ARE FULFILLING AND EXPANDING THAT FOCUS WE MUST PERIODICALLY MEET WITH AREA PASTORS AND CHURCHES FOR FEEDBACK FROM PARTNERING CHURCHES AND TO ESTABLISH RELATIONSHIPS WITH NON-PARTNERING CHURCHES, ENCOURAGING THEM TO BECOME PARTNERING CHURCHES. DURING 2021 WE MADE 8 PRESENTATIONS OF THE MINISTRIES OF LOVE INC TO CHURCH CONGREGATIONS AND 4 PRESENTATIONS TO "OTHER" COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THESE PRESENTATIONS ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO EDUCATE EVEN MORE PEOPLE ABOUT OUR MINISTRIES AND HOW THEY IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES. COMMUNITY MISSIONS -- THIS ACTIVITY IS A NATURAL EXTENSION OF OUR WORK TO MOBILIZE CHURCHES AND TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHURCH MEMBERS TO BECOME ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN LOCAL MISSIONS WORK. THE DIRECTOR OF RELATIONAL MINISTRIES INTENTIONALLY WORKS WITH CHURCHES, BOTH PARTNERING AND NON- PARTNERING, TO SET UP SUCH MISSION OPPORTUNITIES, GENERALLY BASED ON NEEDS WITHIN THE MINISTRY AND ON THE TYPES OF VOLUNTEERS COMING FROM EACH SPECIFIC CHURCH, SUCH AS AGE, PHYSICAL ABILITIES, EXPERIENCE, ETC. BECAUSE OF THESE VOLUNTEER TEAMS, LOVE INC IS ABLE TO EXPAND ACTIVITIES, BETTER ORGANIZE OUR DONATION CENTER, AND OTHER SIMILAR SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS. DURING 2021 WE WERE BLESSED WITH 3 SUCH TEAMS, PROVIDING SERVICES IN BOTH OF OUR STORES AND IN THE DONATION CENTER. APPROXIMATELY 10 STUDENTS AND 16 ADULTS PARTICIPATED IN VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES SUCH AS PAINTING, BUILDING SHELVES,SORTING CLOTHES, DELIVERING PRODUCTS TO NEIGHBORS IN NEED, CLEANING LARGE AND SMALL KITCHEN APPLIANCES, VACUUMING SOFAS AND CHAIRS, CLEANING WOODEN FURNITURE, ORGANIZING DONATED PRODUCTS, CLEANING VEHICLES THAT ARE TO BE DONATED TO NEIGHBORS IN NEED, AND PUTTING TOGETHER PRODUCTS TO BE GIVEN TO NEIGHBORS ON A VOUCHER BASIS. THIS ASPECT OF OUR COMMUNITY MISSIONS ACTIVITY ALSO PROVIDED STAFF WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO MODEL CHRISTIAN LIVING WHILE WORKING WITH THE PARTICIPANTS. ALSO FALLING INTO THIS PROGRAM IS OUR RELATIIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM OF THE LOCAL COURTS SYSTEMS. DURING 2021 WE ACCEPTED 13 PEOPLE FROM THIS PROGRAM WHO PERFORMED A TOTAL OF 348 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE THROUGH THIS LOVE INC MINISTRY. LOVING YOUR NEIGHBOR: IN THE FALL OF 2013, THE ORGANIZATION HELD IT'S FIRST CLASSES IN PERSONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FOR RECIPIENTS OF SERVICES. THE GOAL IS TO HELP THEM LEARN TO MANAGE THEIR RESOURCES MORE EFFECTIVELY AND TO EVENTUALLY HELP THEM OVERCOME THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT LED THEM TO SEEK ASSISTANCE. THE INSTRUCTION IS BIBLE-BASED, AND THE CLASSES ENABLED PARTICIPANTS TO ESTABLISH ONGOING RELATIONSHIPS WITH STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, AND CHURCHES. THIS ACTIVITY HAS BEEN HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL, GROWING FROM 6 PARTICIPANTS IN 2013 TO A TOTAL OF 90 IN 2019. WITH THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC IN 2020 DURING 2020, THE PROGRAM WAS SHIFTED FROM IN-PERSON TO VIRTUAL CLASSES. MOST PARTICIPANTS WERE SUCCESSFUL IN MAKING THIS TRANSITION AND CONTINUED TO ATTEND WEEKLY CLASSES AND COMPLETE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS. IN 2021 A SPECIAL CLASS WAS CREATED TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPANTS TO SLOWLY ENGAGE IN IN-PERSON CLASSES. A HYBRID CLASS, ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING, WAS ALSO CREATED THAT ALLOWED FOR BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION. THE ABILITY TO EARN VOUCHERS WAS RE-ESTABLISHED WITH THIS CLASS. PARTICIPANTS EARN VOUCHERS THATPARTICIPANTS EARN VOUCHERS THAT ARE REDEEMABLE FOR GOODS AND SERVICES FOR FULL PARTICIPATION AND FOR COMPLETING HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS. A TOTAL OF 102 VOUCHERS OUT OF A POTENTIAL 114 (89%) WERE EARNED WITH A TOTAL VALUE OF APPROCIMATELY 1,200. COMMENTS FROM THE PARTICIPANTS AND VOLUNTEERS INDICATED AN INCREASING COMFORT OF BEING IN-PERSON, MOVING FORWARD TO 2022.