We're bringing the garden back to Garden Street. Thanks to a grant by Apostolic Christian World Relief, our Benevolence Center on Garden Street is in full bloom.Hello from the Lighthouse on Laramie!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM JULY 2010
Decisions to follow Christ for the month
312
Kids enrolled at Camp Kearney
119
Average number of homeless women & children housed nightly
24
Families served with free clothing, furniture, appliances & housewares
702
Attendance in our Laramie Street Sunday School, weekly
28
Attendance at our RiverWest Bible Study
10
Elderly Services home, hospital or nursing home visits
66
Formerly homeless women moving out successfully
2
Food baskets given away at our RiverWest Satellite Office
17
Number of people completing a discipleship course this month
20
Average attendance at the Lighthouse Diner
19
Churches that have Adopted Blocks in 61605
17
Food baskets given away through our Garden Street Benevolence Center
605
Attendance at our South Side Manor Bible Study
7
Food baskets given away at our Harrison Homes Satellite Office
55
Attendance at our Harrison Homes Bible Studies (2)
14
Attendance in our Chapel services, Laramie Street, weekly
34
Volunteer hours, as a ministry
1,820
Attendance in our Chapel services, Garden Street, weekly
34
Attendance at our B’Nai B’Rith Bible Study
10
Pastoral care visits & counsels (non-elderly)
48
Attendance at our Hurlburt House Bible Study
6
Children enrolled in Summer Day Camp in the BYC
125
Hot meals to the poor
11,217
FINANCIALS FROM JULY 2010
Monthly revenue vs. budgeted
$176,527/$189,276
Monthly expenses vs. budgeted
$261,796/$289,768
Positive or Negative on the Month
- $85,270
Yearly revenue vs. budgeted
$1,493,805/$1,372,932
Yearly expenses vs. budgeted
$1,831,050/$1,921,447
Positive or Negative on the Year
- $337,245
How we’re doing versus budget
+ $211,270
Cafe 101, operated by Chef Bert Gates, a graduate of South Side Mission’s Culinary Arts Training School has opened on Prospect Avenue, just north of Forrest Hill Avenue in Peoria. The menu is eclectic and fun and perfect for a summer lunch. I mean where else can you get a Tilapia burger or Caprese tomato flatbread pizza and wash it down with a speckled lemonade? The prices are reasonable - a half-pound angus burger with all the trimmings and a heap of fries or slaw will set you back just $5.50. Cafe 101 resides in the former Maria's Tea Room, which enjoyed a good run in this location until recently. Their hours are Monday through Saturday from 6 am to 8 pm
Seldom have I been as proud of the ministry of South Side Mission as I was when staff ministered to a pitiful soul named George. Our ministry to George started when the Harrison Homes housing project called us and told us that George needed to be evicted and asked if we could help George. Assistant Executive Director, External Ministries Rev. Craig Williams and Director of Elderly Services Robin Winfrey, R.N. visited George and determined that this senior citizen is nearly blind and that his apartment was overrun with a variety of vermin. The conditions were so bad that everything that George had, including clothing, furniture, etc., would need to be burned. He literally had to start all over. In working with the Peoria Housing Authortity, George was able to be placed in Sterling Towers for his next apartment. Our maintenance staff displayed their servant’s hearts by removing all of George’s stuff from his Harrison Homes apartment and burning it. Our Benevolence Center staff then furnished George’s new place in Sterling Towers with the clothing, housewares and furniture that he needed. Lastly, Robin is working with George to get him some more assistance in housekeeping, so that he won’t end up in this situation again. Robin will continue to meet with George to monitor his physical and spiritual well-being. I love it when so many departments love on a precious guy like George.
Our Mission Mart managers have had a fruitful month, doing ministry with shoppers:
East Peoria Mission Mart Manager Mandi Chester reports: I would also like to add that Ann and I laid hands on a lady named Karen Carothers. She was in fear for her health and was afraid that her cancer may have returned. On Saturday she came in and let me know that everything checked out okay. Her cancer was not back and she is doing well. She was glowing and all I could say was “Praise God!” Wow is He good!”Thanks for reading this report and Praise the Lord for all He is doing here! Please find me on Facebook or visit our blog www.southsidemission.blogspot.com, visit the website at www.southsidemission.org, pray for us and support us as you feel led.
