I am grateful for giving people. With all that is going on in the world and in McComb, MS, a ray of hope can be found here. I received a text from Yvonne Howell. She and her identical twin sister, Yvette Lott, regularly give to others with their time and charity work.
Yvonne text, “We have some donations from the Methodist Women’s Group. Can you come by and deliver them to the shelter?”
I quickly respond and set up a time to pick up the donations.
My first stop is GUEST House of Hope, 320 N. Front Street, McComb, MS. I meet with Jamie Stewart, Director, and three of the six ladies that are currently temporarily housed there.
“We are currently at capacity. We appreciate all the donations!” Jamie tells me as he gives me a tour of the women’s homeless shelter showing the progress since opening. He takes the bedding and pillows and places them inside, the ladies help take the bags of personal hygiene items and
whatnot and carry them inside. The ladies are sweet and kind as we visit sharing our stories. We make plans to start an art night at the shelter. Hopefully, we as we visit with each other doing art, we can lift each other up and heal as we hopefully move forward, healing in a positive direction. I like to say a little art is good for the soul.
Next, I went to see Ms. Sarah Conerly at Greater Hope Homeless Shelter. I give her the envelope containing $150.00 from the Methodist Women’s Group. She smiles and hugs my neck. She is glowing as she shows me the progress being made on the shelter.
“First Baptist Church of Summit (MS) has been so good to us!” she begins, “look at the rooms they are building (pointing to the six framed and sheet-rocked rooms under construction in the area that use to contain the chapel). We don’t have lights yet but it’s coming along! Anytime we need anything, Doug Hughes, Dan Smith, Wendell Johnson, Chris Weaver and Dr. Larry LeBlanc (pastor) are there to help. We are grateful for these men of God!’
Ms. Sarah and I shared our feelings on the current events in our town.
“Our children are killing our children,” Ms. Sarah shares her pain from the recent shootings and killing of young people in our town.
“I know and for what? We must do better with teaching our kids to deal with frustration and taking care of their mental health. I wish we could have mental health education starting with our kindergarten students and upward. We must destigmatize and make mental health accessible,” I echo her concerns.
I stay a while visiting, sharing ideas of how we can help our community and serve God with our service. I love Ms. Sarah and the example she sets for all of us. She and I both have known the pain of heartache, life circumstance and struggle. It’s because of these things that we have grown and learned to be empathetic and to help where we can.
If you would like to donate to Greater Hope Homeless Shelter, please send to:
Sarah Conerly
Greater Hope Homeless Shelter
1163 Johnny Forrest Road
Summit, MS 39666
Read more at greaterhopehomelessshelter.com
If you would like to donate to the women’s shelter, please send to:
GUEST House of Hope
c/o Jamie Stewart
320 N. Front Street
McComb, MS 39648 May you never lose hope and may you find peace wherever you go.
Jacqueline White-Ivey
Please help me improve access for mental healthcare for all. Read my story of a mother's struggle to acquire mental healthcare for her daughter after her daughter is diagnosed terminally ill with Zellweger Disorder.
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