November 2020 - Mercer Savings Bank

The Mercer Savings Bank Giving Mission recipient for December is C.A.L.L. Ministries, a non-profit focused on feeding families in need through its community food pantry. It also serves the community in many other ways through various outreach programs.“This is our 30-year anniversary,” C.A.L.L. Ministries Executive Director Homer Burnett says. “It was started in 1990 by a couple of the local pastors. They started it just to serve a few folks, and it just kept growing and growing.”Burnett estimates the ministry serves about 700 families each month. “We serve clients that are up to 200% of federal poverty guidelines,” he says. “So we certify each client on the basis of income. They’re allowed to come in every two weeks and shop for items with their family.”The organization also has a bed ministry, in which volunteers construct bed frames. “We found that a lot of our clients were sleeping on the floors,” Burnett says. “We don’t provide the mattress, but we do give them a nice, solid bed frame to put the mattress on, and it gets them up off the floor. And every Tuesday evening, any of the clients that want to show up, they get a fresh, hot meal.”Serving Those in NeedNumerous other good works programs include a backpack program for children, a clothing pantry and a vehicle and appliance work exchange program that allows clients to trade work at the ministry for an appliance in good working order. They even grow some of their own food via an outdoor garden and Aquaponics Center!Christmas is a particularly special time for the ministry, and as with so many things this year, it looks a little different due to the pandemic. “We normally collect donations and have Christmas gifts available to our clients,” Burnett says. “We would put it out on a large area of tables, and they can select according to how many folks they have within their family. It might be toys. It might be decorations. It’s all related to the Christmas season. Can’t do that this year because of the COVID. But we didn’t want to forget the kids.”Instead of creating a “shopping” experience for gifts, the ministry is currently collecting donations to create gift bags for younger children that will include toys, books, games and treats. Older children will receive a voucher of up to $75 for the purchase of a new pair of shoes. This is where the Mercer Savings Giving Mission donation is being used this year.Donations made to C.A.L.L. Ministries directly support its food pantry and other programs. In fact, the organization relies entirely on donations from individuals, companies and churches. “We are supported locally,” Burnett says. “And we’re totally independent of any governmental agency of any type. So it’s a local thing staffed totally by volunteers. There’s no paid staff here whatsoever.”Support C.A.L.L. MinistriesThere are numerous ways to support CALL Ministries. Volunteer or make a donation via their website. Or, follow their Facebook page to help spread the word.

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Giving Mission Spotlight: C.A.L.L. Ministries

Celina (Market Street)

Celina (Irmscher Boulevard)

Fort Recovery

Greenville

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Giving Mission Spotlight: C.A.L.L. Ministries

Celina (Market Street)

Celina (Irmscher Boulevard)

Fort Recovery

Greenville