Good Samaritan Free Clinic Launches Shoe Collection Drive

Shoe donations will also support micro-enterprises in developing nations and reduce what goes into landfills.

Good Samaritan Free Clinic is conducting a shoe drive from May 1, 2017-June 30, 2017 to raise funds for the clinic.   To continue to offer free medical services our organization will earn funds based on the total weight of the shoes collected as Funds2Orgs will purchase all of the donated footwear.  Anyone can help by donating gently worn, used or new shoes at 121 North Queen Street Martinsburg, WV 25402 every Wednesday between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.  Special request for local pickups can be made by emailing goodsamaritan.fc@gmail.com.

All donated shoes will then be redistributed throughout the Funds2Orgs network of microenterprise partners in developing nations.  Funds2Orgs helps impoverished people to start, maintain and grow businesses in countries in Central America and Africa. Proceeds from the shoe sales are used to feed, clothe and house their families.

By donating gently worn, used and new shoes to the Good Samaritan Free Clinic, the shoes will be given a second chance and make a difference in people’s lives. LaTonia Brown can contacted through email at: goodsamaritan.fc@gmail.com or call 304-582-5948.  Please see attached for more details.Good Samaritan Free Clinic Launches Shoe Collection Drive
Shoe donations will also support micro-enterprises in developing nations and reduce what goes into landfills.
 

FCCH meeting for 5/2/17 is cancelled. Will let you know when the meeting is rescheduled.

A Message from Pastor Ken Walker at Trinity United Methodist Church
We have been meeting and planning for a Cold Weather Shelter for next year. There is much to learn and consider. Hope you can join us for our next meeting.
Our next meeting will take place on Monday April 3rd at 1:00 p.m. (Trinity UMC). Visiting us will be Rev. Bob Shefner and John Cloyd from the Jefferson County Community Ministries.
Calendar link: https://jccm.us/events/month/
Location link: http://jccm.us/meal-and-shelter-locations/
Living In God’s Hope Today,

Rev. Dr. Ken Walker, Pastor
– Trinity United Methodist Church
– 220 West Martin Street
– Martinsburg, WV 25401
– 304.263.9215 (church)
– 304.620.6262 (cell)
– pastorkenw@comcast.net           

In 2016, the Faith Community Coalition for the Homeless was able to shelter 84 children and 107 adults for 1-3 days in motels when no other shelter was available or feasible.  We were able to do this because of the generosity of our donors, grantors and churches.  FCCH became a WV non-profit corporation and received grants from the Eastern WV Community Foundation, Ecolabs and Emergency Food and Shelter program through the United Way.  Thank you to our grantors and to everyone who donated so FCCH could help our homeless neighbors.

In addition to emergency shelter, the kind and caring volunteers in our area served meals, provided food, respite care, medical care, warm clothes, sleeping bags and blankets. And some of our homeless neighbors were able to move into permanent shelter. Most important many volunteers in our area gave a little hope to those who need it most.  Thank you all for your generosity, sacrifices and kindness.  It is heartwarming to know there are so many people helping others when there is so much need all around us.

Let’s pray that 2017 brings peace, hope and housing for our neighbors.

November 12 – 20, 2016 was national Hunger & Homelessness Awareness week, and the FCCH is very appreciative of Jeff McCoy from the The Journal who ran a series of articles about homelessness in the Eastern Panhandle.

http://www.journal-news.net/news/local-news/2016/11/in-their-shoes-an-account-of-living-24-hours-as-a-homeless-man/

http://www.journal-news.net/news/local-news/2016/11/martinsburg-church-continues-outreach-for-those-in-need/

http://www.journal-news.net/news/local-news/2016/10/local-clinic-provides-more-than-medical-aid/

Mary got the care she needed near home

Homelessness and Panhandling in Martinsburg?

Because homelessness is such a sad but real problem in our country and community, I have to admit I felt proud of my grandchildren as they put their own money in a cup that an older lady was holding as she sat on the sidewalk.  At the same time, I know that I’ve passed panhandlers on the street and sidewalks when I didn’t feel safe or comfortable donating.  As we focus  on the obvious panhandling issue in our community,  there are still many homeless individuals and families in our community who are not so obvious.  There are ways to help our homeless neighbors.

The Faith Community Coalition for the Homeless (FCCH) will provide temporary emergency shelter when there is no other shelter option available.  For example, sometimes the Rescue Mission and Bethany House are full or unable to accept homeless persons for various reasons.  With no other option available,  FCCH can arrange to pay for a night or two in a motel  and help to connect  homeless neighbors with services and longer term assistance. There are so many reasons why a family or individual can become homeless:  Loss of job, lack of transportation, high rental rates and low salaries, illness, mounting medical bills, wage garnishments are just a few.

FCCH operates solely with volunteers and donations and is tremendously grateful to the Eastern WV Community Foundation for recently providing a matching $5,000 grant to reimburse FCCH and provide children and their families with temporary emergency shelter and hopefully turn their lives around.  To learn how you can help the FCCH and help homeless families? Check out our website at https:faithcommunitycoalitionforhomeless.com, call 240-405-6794, email wvfcch@gmail.com or send  much needed matching donations to PO Box 523, Martinsburg, WV 25402.