Hale Community Ministries

HUNGER RELIEF/CLOTHES CLOSET/SPIRITUAL COUNSELING
Food bags and/or clothing are distributed to clients at both the Carter and Johnson County locations by appointment, although persons who are in crisis situations are seen as emergency walk-ins. Volunteers from local churches serve to make appointments, teach Bible studies, assist with Laundry Ministry, lead children and youth ministries, construct food bags, give out food and clothing, deliver food bags to homebound clients, and pray or counsel with clients as the Lord leads. Many who come to HCM seeking help carry heavy burdens and need the encouragement that meeting with an HCM volunteer can bring. More often than not though, it is the volunteer who comes away with the greatest blessing as he/she sees the Lord work in miraculous ways to draw the lost to Himself for salvation and to bring a special measure of joy and love to His children who are in need of His touch. Often, relationships with clients are built that extend beyond the doors of HCM.

FOOD FOR KIDS BACKPACK PROGRAM
Food for Kids—Backpack Program is a collaborative effort between Hale Community Ministries, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee, area schools, and volunteers working together to provide emergency food assistance for children in need. Nutritious snacks and easily prepared meal items are distributed in to children who are identified by the school or charity as being at risk for hunger.

Presently in Carter County and Johnson Counties, the program is serving 347 children in 12 elementary schools and one Jr. High. Food is obtained by Second Harvest Food Bank and delivered to the volunteer site—Hale Community Ministries. Volunteers from local churches pick up the food, fill the backpacks and deliver them to the school. The backpacks are then distributed to the parent when they come to the school to pick up their child. Currently, the backpacks are given out the second and fourth Friday of each month. Parents are responsible for returning the backpacks back to the school prior to the next distribution.

The program is dependent upon grant monies, and donations from organizations and individuals. For a $90 donation, a child can be provided food through the Backpack program for an entire school year. For more information, contact Becky at HCM. For a printable PDF brochure, click here.

LAUNDRY MINISTRY Laundry Ministry Bible Study
At our Lynnwood-Lynnridge office, many of our clients are single moms who do not have washers/dryers of their own and must use a laundramat. To help them with this expense, and to provide spiritual nourishment,we provide a Laundry Ministry (for residents of Lynnwood and Lynnridge Apartments only). Participants attend a short Bible study (led by members of our local churches) and receive quarters and detergent, provided by our churches, for doing their laundry. Diapers are also provided when available.

TEAMKID & JUST FOR GIRLS
TeamKID, a discipleship ministry for children is provided by Grace Baptist at our Lynnwood/Lynnridge office. This includes games, Bible studies, snacks, crafts, etc. Just For Girls is a discipleship/mentoring ministry for Jr. & Sr. High girls and is provided by Immanuel Baptist.

CHRISTMAS MINISTRY
Christmas Food Baskets are provided to approximately 1,000 families each year through the county-wide, multi-agency coordination of the Carter County Community Services Council. Local churches provide financial assistance for the food boxes and toys for the children.

Summer Mission Teams
Visiting mission teams from across the country serve HCM and the residents of Carter and Johnson Counties by providing staffing for:

Day Camp and Backyard Bible Clubs
Resort Ministries
Block Parties
Community Surveys
Numerous community involvement/construction assignments
Prayer walks
Special ministries (yard work, repackaging bulk foods, clothes closet, etc.)

Backyard Bible Clubs
Backyard Bible Clubs are held in various locations across Carter and Johnson Counties.

Resort Ministries
Resort Ministries are provided during the summer at Roan Mountain State Park. Visiting mission teams, as well as local church groups, provide Backyard Bible Clubs in the park each morning and host a Family Night Program each evening.

Construction of a new porch and ramp
Summer Missionaries
Summer semester missionaries serve at HCM to provide assistance to visiting mission teams. Missionaries are provided through the Sojourner and Semester Missionary programs of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

Community/Home Improvement Projects
Mission teams and local volunteers perform light construction/repair work for the elderly and needy throughout the year. Most work will be done through a partnership with Appalachia Service Project.