MUST Ministries is a nonprofit, faith-based organization helping people in your community break the cycle of poverty. MUST provides basic needs such as groceries, hot meals, housing, emergency shelter, employment services and clothing. All services are free and provided without regard to income, race or religious beliefs. MUSTARD SEEDS Winter 2014 Newsletter A PUBLICATION OF MUST MINISTRIES Fight growing poverty here Since 2000, the poverty rate in MUST Ministries’ ser- vice area of eight counties has grown at a staggering pace. Ac- cording to recent estimates in Cobb County alone, the num- ber of people living in poverty grew from 38,980 to 76,183 in 11 years. That number represents a 96 percent increase! In Cherokee, the num- bers rose by 116% from 7,474 to 16,113. The need for pro- grams to alleviate poverty is clear. MUST and our faithful supporters are working hard to strike back at the many in- stabilities our community resi- dents face: food, housing and job insecurity. Only through financial support can the mission con- tinue to help 34,000 a year who come to MUST seeking help and hope. HOW TO HELP: Please consider giving today. Go to www.mustministries.org and donate online or mail a check to P.O. Box 1717, Marietta, GA 30061. You can also go online and apply to volunteer. MUST Marketplace open to public Thrift store supports clients, programs An exciting new approach to becoming more sustainable is beginning at MUST Ministries, ac- cording to Dr. Ike Reighard, President and CEO. After months of research and strategic planning, MUST Ministries opened a 4,600-sq.-ft. thrift store on Jan. 16 to expand the organization’s mission of helping those in need by creating stabilizing solu- tions to our most vulner- able neighbors. Creating a retail store gives shoppers access to good quality and name-brand merchandise at discount prices – a true win-win community solution. Supporters and donors bringing items to the Donation Center were surveyed and overwhelm- ingly supported MUST’s need to acquire a new income stream and favored the thrift store concept.” “This concept is very exciting on many levels. We give clients the dignity of shopping in a nice store, we give donors an opportunity to make a difference by what they give to the store, we invite the public in to shop and see the important work we’re doing here and we help sustain our programs with the proceeds.” 20% off for you and a friend *When you spend $20 each or more. One time use. Valid thru April 30, 2014. The large store, open Tues. – Sat., 10-6, is housed in remodeled space at the current Marietta Program Services location at 1407 Cobb Parkway North to prevent additional expense for rent. “We challenge the community to donate high- end items like designer clothes, fashionable jew- elry, desirable electron- ics and artwork to further help the store.” MUST Marketplace donations can be taken to the MUST Donation Center at 55 Chastain Road, Suite 110, Kennesaw, Tues.-Sat, 9-5. Look for upcoming coupons, sales and fre- quent shopper discounts on Facebook and other social media. HOW TO HELP: Shop at MUST Marketplace and even make an additional financial donation there. Bring nice items to the Donation Center. Volunteer to work late afternoons and Saturdays at MUST Marketplace by emailing jrenegar@ mustministries.org. And tell your friends! #
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MUST Ministr ies is a nonprof i t , fa i th-based organizat ion helping people in your community break the cycle of poverty. MUST provides bas ic needs such as grocer ies ,
hot meals , housing , emergency shelter, employment serv ices and c lothing. Al l serv ices are free and provided without regard to income, race or re l ig ious bel iefs .
MUSTARD SEEDSWinter 2014 Newsletter A PUBLICATION OF MUST MINISTRIES
Fight growing poverty here Since 2000, the poverty rate in MUST Ministries’ ser-vice area of eight counties has grown at a staggering pace. Ac-cording to recent estimates in Cobb County alone, the num-ber of people living in poverty grew from 38,980 to 76,183 in 11 years. That number represents a 96 percent increase! In Cherokee, the num-bers rose by 116% from 7,474 to 16,113. The need for pro-grams to alleviate poverty is clear. MUST and our faithful supporters are working hard to strike back at the many in-stabilities our community resi-dents face: food, housing and job insecurity. Only through financial support can the mission con-tinue to help 34,000 a year who come to MUST seeking help and hope.
HOW TO HELP:Please consider giving today. Go to www.mustministries.org and donate online or mail a check to P.O. Box 1717, Marietta, GA 30061. You can also go online and apply to volunteer.
MUST Marketplace open to publicThrift store supports clients, programs
An exciting new approach to becoming more sustainable is beginning at MUST Ministries, ac-cording to Dr. Ike Reighard, President and CEO. After months of research and strategic planning, MUST Ministries opened a 4,600-sq.-ft. thrift store on Jan. 16 to expand the organization’s mission of helping those in need by creating stabilizing solu-tions to our most vulner-able neighbors. Creating a retail store gives shoppers access to good quality and name-brand merchandise at discount prices – a true win-win community solution.
Supporters and donors bringing items to the Donation Center were surveyed and overwhelm-
ingly supported MUST’s need to acquire a new income stream and favored the thrift store concept.”
“This concept is very exciting on many levels. We give clients the dignity of shopping in a nice store, we give donors an opportunity to make a difference by what they give to the store, we invite the public in to shop and see the important work we’re doing here and we help sustain our programs with the proceeds.”
20% offfor you and
a friend*When you spend $20 each
or more. One time use.Valid thru April 30, 2014.
The large store, open Tues. – Sat., 10-6, is housed in remodeled space at the current Marietta Program Services location at 1407 Cobb Parkway North to prevent additional expense for rent.
“We challenge the community to donate high-end items like designer clothes, fashionable jew-elry, desirable electron-ics and artwork to further help the store.” MUST Marketplace donations can be taken to the MUST Donation Center at 55
Chastain Road, Suite 110, Kennesaw, Tues.-Sat, 9-5. Look for upcoming coupons, sales and fre-
quent shopper discounts on Facebook and other social media.
HOW TO HELP:Shop at MUST Marketplace and even make an additional financial donation there. Bring nice items to the Donation Center. Volunteer to work late afternoons and Saturdays at MUST Marketplace by emailing [email protected]. And tell your friends!
#
ROTARY CLUBS MAKE HIGH IMPACT ON COMMUNITY KITCHEN
Thanks to a generous grant from the Rotary Club of Marietta and the Rotary Club of East Cobb, the Loaves and Fishes Community Kitchen received an expansion and renova-tion. Serving more than 81,734 meals last year, the kitchen is a mainstay in providing for the homeless and those struggling for financial stabil-ity. Beyond the generous $50,000 Rotary grant, MUST received sup-port from Piedmont Church, First Baptist Church of Woodstock, the Lopez Foundation and St. Cath-erine’s Episcopal Church to com-plete the renovation.
HOW TO HELP: MUST serves three meals a day, every day. Offer to bring and serve a meal by emailing [email protected].
2 www.mustministr ies .org
CHEROKEE COUNTY UTILIZING NEW MUST MINISTRIES FACILITY The new MUST Ministries facility in Cherokee is a tribute to the community – including do-nors, volunteers, staff, elected officials and many others. Opened in May, the building at 111 Brown Industrial in Canton serves 11,000 Cherokee residents annually who rely on MUST for food, employment services and clothing. In fact, 60 percent of the financially unstable population in Cherokee comes to MUST for help and hope.
New fiscal year brings board expansion
The MUST Ministries Board of Di-rectors is welcoming new members as additional seats were added and some transitions took place. Alan Lee took the reins as Chairman with Dan Styf step-ping in as Vice Chair, Denise O’Connell as Treasurer and Rita Moore remaining as secretary.
Joining the Board are Jeremy Ab-ernathy (Taylor Law Group), Patricia Harris (Harris Consulting Group), Mike Hendley (Northwestern Mutual), Paula Jackson (AT&T), Jennifer Jairdullo (Self Employed), Barbara Jarratt (New Hope Counseling Center), Vaughn Williams (Kennesaw State University) and Carol Wisdom (Georgia Lung Assn.).
“This new class of board members provides energy and leadership that will benefit the organization,” said Alan Lee, VP, Business Development for Zep, Inc. “I am honored and excited to lead the board this year and be a part of so many exciting milestones in MUST’s future.”
Rotary members from Marietta and East Cobb gathered to cel-ebrate their $50,000 grant to the Loaves and Fishes Community Kitchen. Remodeling doubled the size of the kitchen and new equipment made preparing and serving meals much easier.
Smyrna location gets National TV Coverage
A special recruitment event was hosted at the MUST location in Smyrna. Clients were interviewed for landscaping work while FOX national news filmed the event as part of an unemployment story. MUST Employment Services received national attention for their efforts to help put people back to work.
MUSTARD SEEDS
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Gobble Jog raises records amid coldest race weather
Despite the 20 degree temperature at the beginning of the event, the 11th annual Gobble Jog was a huge success. Sparked by more corporate sponsorships and more runners raising money on individual online Gobble Jog pages, the festive event managed to raise a record amount to benefit the 34,000 people a year seeking help and hope at MUST.
This year, MUST encouraged participants to fundraise through the Gobble Jog, and they stepped up to the challenge. Participants set up fundraising web pages and sent them out to their friends, family members and business contacts. As a result, they brought in more than $30,000! MUST requires about $5 million a year in operating costs to provide the food, housing, emergency shelter, employment services, clothing and other resources for people in need in eight counties.
2013
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WILL YOU ANSWER GOD’S CALL? Christ calls us all to serve “the least of these”. MUST Ministries is fortunate to have an amazing circle of support that answers this call every day. Now there’s a new way you can get involved and help us stay focused on mission through the MUST Shepherd monthly giving program. It’s the most convenient and efficient way to have a direct impact on those most in need in your community.
HOW TO HELP:Interested in monthly giving as an individual, business, church or organization? Call Mirtha Vaca-Wilkens at 678-218-4515 for more information or sign up online at mustministries.org/donate
INAUGURAL GOLF TOURNEY BRINGS SUPPORT TO MINISTRY The first annual MUST Golf Tournament was hosted in Septem-ber and raised $16,000 to help the ministry. Thanks to Chairman Jerry Cox and assistance from Alan Lee, both MUST board members, the fall event was a great success at Bradshaw Farms in Cherokee.
HOW TO HELP:Volunteer for the 2014 Golf Committee or sign up and bring a team. Just email [email protected] for details.
NEW SR. VP TAKES THE REINS
Chris Fields, formerly Dir. of Finance at Open Hand, is the new Senior VP of Programs and Administration. Chris began his career at Bank of America where his role was to create comprehensive financial solutions for organizations ranging in size from $5 million to over $100 million in revenue. During 10 years, Chris worked solely with hundreds of non-profit organizations throughout Metro-Atlanta in developing tailored financial solutions to meet unique needs. It was this specific breadth of experience, gained in understanding the opportunities and challenges that non-profit organizations face, that led Chris to join Strategic Consulting Group in 2001.
Through these experiences, Chris became the first Senior Director of Finance for Open Hand in 2005, a well, respected non-profit in Metro-Atlanta. During his tenure, the organization grew dramatically – from serving 2,000 to 4,000 clients daily, from $4.5 million to $11 million in revenue, and from 70 to 130 employees. Chris and his wife Tracy met at Mercer Univer-sity, and they have lived in Cobb County for almost 20 years. Tracy is a long-time School Counselor at Lost Mountain Middle School in Kennesaw. Chris and Tracy are blessed with two girls, ages 9 and 13, and are members of NorthStar Church.
“Coming to MUST is an honor
and a privilege. I look forward
to working with such a dynamic
team of servant leaders.”
www.mustministr ies .org 5
This training meets the needs of those seeking manufactur-ing and warehouse positions, and to date, 61% of clients taking this training have returned to work! In addition to training, OSHA participants through MUST receive FREE steel toe work boots, a requirement in many industrial work environments, but something that is often unaffordable to a job seeker. In March, MUST Ministries will offer the first the National Retail Federation Customer Service Certificate in Dallas, through our partnership with CAYA Reconciliation Ministries. This is a good fit for the community, since 6 of the top 10 employers in Paulding County are engaged in retail trade. Applications will be accepted through various agencies in Paulding, and are available now.
HOW TO HELP:Volunteer on the MUST Employment Council or serve at one of MUST’s four locations (Canton, Elizabeth Inn Campus, Marietta or Smyrna) where you can teach classes, help in the computer lab, arrange conferences and more.
MUSTARD SEEDS
JOB ASSISTANCE IS CRITICAL COMPONENT AT MUST Through the effective employment services program at MUST Ministries, our innovative programming is expanding into new com-munities and adding training programs. With community collabora-tion, the Back to Work job readiness module is being delivered in Paulding County at CAYA Reconciliation Ministries and in Pickens County at the Cheryl Blankenship Community Resource Center, expanding delivery of the core curriculum for job seekers wishing to return to work. “Through self-exploration, this course allows participants an opportunity to better understand their skills and abilities, practice their 30 second “elevator speech”, create an effective resume and cover letter, and understand the power of selecting the right references and interviewing skills,” according to Beth Ray, Program Director. In addition to the core curriculum, MUST Ministries has received grants to de-liver training programs in Bartow and Pauld-ing counties. Industrial training programs pro-vide certificate-level training and, if required, personal protective equipment. Through the effective MUST alliance with OSHA, the OSHA 10-Hour General Industry & Forklift Safety class is begin-ning in Cartersville. Strong partnerships with Goodwill of North Georgia, Sunbelt Rentals and Risk Management Partners make this 10-hour course possible.
This training meets the needs of those seeking manufacturing and warehouse positions, and to date, 61% of clients taking this training have returned to work.
refugesafe
Zoo Atlanta • May 10 • 6:30 p.m.Requesting corporate sponsors and auction itemsEmail [email protected]
A Gala CelebratingMUST Ministries:A Place of Help and Hope
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Coats for Cobb sets record in giving
This year, Coats for Cobb, head-ed by the McKay family, collected 1500 coats to keep their neighbors in need warm. They collected, sort-ed and boxed them by size and gen-der before delivering to the MUST Donation Center. Now THAT is an act of love!
Mobile PantryTwice a month, St. Ann’s Catholic Church
brings a mobile food pantry to the homeless at MUST. They distribute pop top cans of food, toiletries, candles and other needed items to MUST clients who register at the Outreach Center. What a blessing to so many in need!
Women and children’s shelter area redecorated
The family area of the shelter was redec-orated with help from Coke employees who painted the walls. Design plans, setting up an online gift registry and hours of work were led by Dana Poor of Boxtree Designs. Thanks to generous donors and volunteers, every room received new furniture, bedding, rugs, drapes, children’s cots, cribs, pillows, lamps and more. It was a radical change that means so much to our homeless moms and children living there.
Clients enjoy auctionThe Supportive Housing program
hosts auctions where clients can spend their MUST Bucks on items they need for their apartments. Residents have physi-cal and/or mental disabilities and were chronically homeless before coming to live in the MUST program. In the past year, 441 veterans – including the 18 now living in veteran’s housing with MUST – have been served at MUST Ministries.
Supportive Housing ChristmasMUST clients in Cobb’s Supportive Housing program enjoyed a Christmas meal, gifts
and a visit from Santa. The veterans’ program residents also got a visit from many local veterans’ groups who brought the food, served it and gave out gift cards.
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MUSTARD SEEDS
SUMMER LUNCH ACCOMPLISHES RECORD-BREAKING YEAR
This monumental effort showcases MUST’s continued commitment to working with local community partners in service across North GA.
Almost a quarter of a million sack lunches reached hungry children during the summer months, thanks to an overwhelming effort by communities in eight counties. MUST Ministries has coordinated the program for 18 years and this year saw a 31 percent increase in lunches as the final tally soared to 247,087. “This is an amazing accomplishment for the Summer Lunch 2013 team,” according to Paula Rigsby, Seasonal Coordinator. “Not only did they meet the hunger needs of more than 6,000 children across eight counties, but also they worked together to benefit our little neigh-bors in need.” According to Feeding America, more than 300,000 people living in MUST’s service area are “food insecure,” meaning they are unable to acquire the nutritious, safe foods they need to be healthy and productive. The Summer Lunch program is one effective way MUST is responding. A special thank you to our partners, vol-unteers, benefactors, sandwich makers, bag
decorators, checkers and packers, drivers and of course our outstanding team of staff. With numerous groups and organiza-tions involved in making this happen, the list is too long to in-numerate, but MUST is grateful to churches, civic clubs, sports teams, scout troops, families, businesses and individuals who all pitched in to make this happen. The program increased an estimated 58 percent over the last four years as MUST has gone from serving Cobb and Cherokee Counties to reaching Bartow, Douglas, Gwinnett, North Fulton, Paulding and Pickens as well.
HOW TO HELP:Plans are underway to do more in 2014. Consider volunteering, driving or making lunches. Summer Lunch begins May 27 and we need hundreds of helpers! Email [email protected] to get on the list.
Children crowd to the back of the MUST van for daily lunches during summer months when school cafeterias are closed.
Children head home from the MUST van with their Summer Lunch meal. Serving eight counties means thousands of children in this area don’t go hungry.
A LETTER FROM A GRATEFUL CLIENT MUST Ministries provided a hot meal at Thanksgiving and Christmas in the Loaves and Fishes Community Kitchen. Additionally, 150,000 items were packed in 1,000 Thanksgiving boxes for distribution in Cherokee county. Supporters make an amazing difference and allow MUST to hear stories like this daily!
Find out the latest MUST news first and help us spread the good news about helping your neighbors in need! “Like” MUST on facebook, follow us on Twitter, view all our videos on YouTube, and check out our photos on flickr! Gobble Jog is getting in on the action too with @MUSTGobbleJog on Twitter. Gobble Jog has its own web site (www.gobblejog.org) and facebook fan page!
Dear MUST Ministries,My husband and I are writing to thank you for giving us a Thanksgiving meal.. My goodness, you have given us so many wonderful things to prepare! If God had not put it on your hearts to give to the needy, we would have gratefully been eating beans and rice. We would have been very thankful to God for that, but you are the living example of Jesus Christ, who said: “If you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto me.”
Thank you so much for giving us not only a meal for Thanksgiving Day, but also food that lasted many days past Thanksgiving, as well as a smile in otherwise sad hearts. Our family suffered a terrible tragedy 22 years ago and with each holiday season it is ‘only’ the strength of Jesus in our hearts and lives that gives us cause to rejoice. Your gift is a living example of Jesus Christ and I thank God for you! God Bless you ALL!
