Last year, as the COVID pandemic was surging and no one really knew what kind of impact this might have on the economy, All Saints took advantage of a PPP Loan (Payroll Protection Plan) from the federal government for approximately $40,000 to make sure our employees would be paid during this time. The loan was forgiven since we used the relief funds as intended.
At the end of 2020, we were amazed at God’s provision. For the first time in our history, our pledge giving exceeded the amount that was pledged for the year! At the end of the day, praise the Lord, we never needed the relief funds that were given to us.
As the Lord blessed us financially in an unexpected way in 2020, our leadership sought to remain alive to that characteristic that has described us since the beginning: to be financially responsible and generous. As God has been generous to us, our Finance Committee and Vestry decided we needed to give a comparable amount of funds to those in our community who are suffering due to the effects of COVID.
At the Vestry’s prompting, the Outreach Committee formed a team chaired by Jane Garrety that researched, interviewed, and identified a few key agencies that we could support. The other two members of the team were Katherine Cheshire and Landon Preston. They proposed to the Vestry the organizations listed below. On Tuesday, May 18, the Vestry voted to distribute approximately $40,000 between them.
Christ Community Health Services, an agency that provides high- quality healthcare to the underserved. The donated funds will provide medical care for twenty-five migrant families.
Hands Up! Preschool, a school that serves underserved children in Jackson. The donated funds will be used to fund twelve kindergarteners for a two-week summer program.
Keep My Hood Good, an organization that serves under-privileged youth in our community. The donated funds will serve COVID-related needs for twenty-six families in their program.
Tennessee Homeless Solutions, a local agency that seeks to reduce homelessness and improve family stability by increasing housing resources and support services. The donated funds will provide assistance to cover over twenty requests of families in need.
United Way of West Tennessee, an organization that advocates for equity through uniting agencies in ways that improve people’s access to health, education, and financial stability. The donated funds will cover related requests not covered by other community agencies.
The Warehouse, an organization in Cape Town, South Africa that we partner with that mobilizes local churches in serving the poor. The donated funds will be used for a food distribution program specifically targeting those most harmed by COVID.
Praise the Lord for the opportunity given to us to bless these organizations and the people they serve. If you’d like to learn more about how you can get involved in any of these organizations, you can email Jane Garrety. And many thanks to Jane and her team for all their work.