Union Mission Ministries Inc

UNION MISSION MINISTRIES, INC. IS SET APART BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD TO PREACH THE GOSPEL AND MEET PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS THROUGH OUT WEST VIRGINIA THROUGH THE PROVISION OF SHELTER, CLOTHING, FOOD, COUNSELING, AND STRUCTURED PROGRAMS FOR THE POOR, THE NEEDY, AND THOSE BOUND AND BRUISED BY ADDICTIVE LIFESTYLES.

OUTREACH MINISTRIES: THE MISSION HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY AND PRIVILEGE TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD AND CLOTHING THROUGHOUT WEST VIRGINIA. OUR WAREHOUSE IN CHARLESTION IS THE CENTRAL POINT OF DISTRIBUTION AS WE ASSIST MORE THAN 20 CHURCHES, FOOD PANTRIES, AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. OUR FOOD RESOURCES ARE ALSO USED AT OUR MEN'S SHELTER AND OUR MEN'S AND WOMEN'S ADDICTION RECOVERY PROGRAMS. AS A RESULT OF SHARING THESE REASOURCES, WE GAIN THE PRIVILEGE OF SHARING THE LOVE OF GOD WITH THE HURTING. IN 2020, THE MISSION WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS DISTRIBUTION FROM 13 SEPARATE SITES SERVING AND AVERAGE OF 1,532 FAMILIES AND 5,327 INDIVIDUALS MONTHLY. THE OUTREACH MINISTRY ALSO RESPONDS QUICKLY TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY RELIEF FOLLOWING FLOODS OR OTHER DISASTERS. THE GOODS DISTRIBUTED ARE RECEIVED BY THE MISSION AS GIFTS-IN-KIND FROM BUSINESSES, FOOD RESOURCE PROGRAMS, AND OTHER MINISTRY PROGRAMS.

UNION MISSION MEN'S SHELTER: THE MISSION'S MEN'S SHELTER PROVIDES SERVICE TO THE HOMELESS AND HURTING EVERY HOUR OF THE DAY, YEAR-ROUND. IT PROVIDES BETWEEN 150 AND 200 MEALS PER DAY, AND IT HAS A MAXIMUM LODGING CAPACITY OF 76. THE MEN WHO COME TO THE SHELTER DO SO KNOWING THEIR PHYSICAL NEEDS WILL BE MET. THE STAFF AND CHAPLAINS OF THE SHELTER, WHILE MEETING THESE PHYSICAL NEEDS, ALSO TEND TO THE SPIRITUAL NEEDS IN A PRACTICAL WAY. IN 2020, SERVING APPROXIMATELY 13 SEPARATE INDIVIDUALS MONTHLY, A TOTAL OF 158 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED 18,978 MEALS AND 8,281 OVERNIGHT LODGINGS. EMERGENCY SHELTER IS OFFERED AS A REFUGE TO MEN NEEDING TEMPORARY HOUSING. RESIDENTS RECEIVE THREE HOT MEALS EVERY DAY, AS WELL AS A HOT SHOWER, CLEAN CLOTHES AND PAJAMAS, FRESH TOILETRIES, AND A CLEAN BED. THE SHELTER IS OPEN THROUGHOUT THE DAY, AND RESIDENTS ARE WELCOME TO ACCESS THE FACILITY WHENEVER THEY WISH. IF AFTER A A SHORT INITIAL PERIOD, A TRANSIENT DECIDES TO MAKE THE SHELTER HIS HOME, HE MUST COMMIT TO FINDING A STEADY JOB. RESIDENTS ARE ATTRIBUTED THE DIGNITY THEY DESERVE AS HUMAN BEINGS, BUT THEY ARE ALSO KEPT ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THEIR TIME AND MONEY.

FAMILY SERVICES MINISTRIES: FAMILY SERVICES IS COMMITTED TO MEETING THE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF FAMILIES AS WELL AS THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN CRISIS OR AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS. EVICTION, HOUSE FIRES, UNEMPLOYMENT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND POVERTY ARE JUST A FEW REASONS WHY FAMILIES COME TO THE MISSION FOR ASSISTANCE. AT THE MISSION, THEY CAN FIND PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL REASONS FOR HOPE. OUR FAMILY SERVICES STAFF ASSISTS CLIENTS WHO ARE IN EMERGENCY NEEDS OF HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, CLOTHING, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND COUNSELING. NEW CLOTHING, ALMOST NEW CLOTHING, AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS ARE GIVEN TO CLIENTS THROUGH OUR DISTRIBUTION ROOM. IN 2020, THE MISSION SERVED AN AVERAGE OF 5,327 INDIVIDUALS MONTHLY. IN ADDITION, THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS FOOD BOXES WERE DISTRIBUTED TO 550 FAMILIES, THE ADOPT-A-FAMILY FOR CHRISTMAS PROGRAM SERVED 50 FAMILIES WITH 170 CHILDREN, AND TOYS FOR CHILDREN DISTRIBUTED GIFTS TO 250 CHILDREN AT CHRISTMAS.

THRIFT STORE MINISTRY: THE MISSION'S THRIFT STORE ACCEPTS DONATIONS OF NEW AND USED ITEMS FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR RESALE AT MARKET VALUE. ALL ITEMS ARE PLACED ON THE SALES FLOOR WITH A PRICE AND A DATE, AND ONCE AN ITEM HAS BEEN ON THE SHELF FOR LONGER THAN 8 WEEKS, THE ITEMS ARE GENERALLY DISCOUNTED OR SET OUT FOR FREE. EXCESS CLOTHING IS SOLD IN BULK. ON OCCASION, A CUSTOMER WILL SHOW UP AT THE STORE AND ASK FOR THE HELP WITH BEDDING OR CLOTHING AND MOST OF THE TIME WE ARE ABLE TO MEET "IMMEDIATE NEEDS". THE PROCEEDS FROM THE STORE ARE USED TO HELP SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE MISSION. MEN'S AND WOMEN'S ADDICTION RECOVERY PROGRAM: WE ARE A LONG TERM, 12 TO 15 MONTH, FAITH-BASED ADDICTION RECOVERY PROGRAM WHERE MEN AND WOMEN LEARN HOW TO LIVE A LIFE OF COMPLETE VICTORY OVER ADDICTION THROUGH A COMBINED APPROACH OF BIBLICAL COUNSELING, TEACHING, WORK THERAPY, AND EDUCATION. OUR PROGRAMS ADDRESS THE SPIRIT, BODY, AND MIND OF THE PARTICIPANTS AS THEY ARE IMMERSED IN A CULTURE OF HEALING AND RESTORATION. THE PROGRAMS REVOLVE AROUND THE WORD OF GOD, EXECERCISE, NUTRITION, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, AND JOB PLACEMENT. OUR PARTICIPANTS ARE PROVIDED WITH MEALS, CLOTHING, PERSONAL ITEMS, RECREATIONAL NEEDS, AND CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION. AS WELL AS RECOURCES FOR VOCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT THROUGH OUR CLIENT SERVICES TO ENABLE INDIVIDUALS TO SUCCESSFULLY RE-ENTER THE COMMUNITY. IN OUR MEN'S PROGRAM ON AVERAGE, APPROXIMATELY 12 MEN ARE IN THE PROGRAM ON A MONTHLY BASIS. DURING 2020, THESE MEN WERE SERVED 19,128 MEALS AND 6,495 OVERNIGHT LODGINGS. IN OUR WOMEN'S PROGRAM ON AVERAGE, APPROXIMATELY 12 WOMEN ARE IN THE PROGRAM ON A MONTHLY BASIS. DURING 2020, THESE WOMEN WERE SERVED 10,695 MEALS AND 3,627 OVERNIGHT LODGINGS. CLIENT SERVICES: AS THE MISSION STANDS ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE ADDICTION CRISIS, WE ARE SEEING A GREATER NEED TO HELP RECOVERING ADDICTS BEYOND THE POINT OF HIS OR HER ADDICTION. THE QUESTION BECAME: HOW CAN WE IN GOOD CONSCIENCE HELP SOMEONE OVERCOME ADDICTION ONLY TO SEND THEM OUT WITH NO PRACTICAL TOOLS TO KEEP THEM FROM FALLING BACK INTO DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIORS? MORE THAN EVER WE SEE THE NEED TO HELP THESE MEN AND WOMEN OBTAIN THE TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND LIFE SKILLS REQUIRED TO NOT ONLY FIND A JOB, BUT BUILD A CAREER AND A HOME THAT IS FREE OF ABUSE AND ADDICTION. MANY OF THE PEOPLE WE SERVE DO NOT EVEN HAVE THE BASIC SKILLS THAT WE OFTEN TAKE FOR GRANT - LIKE HOW TO BALANCE A CHECKBOOK, USE A COMPUTER, COOK A MEAL, OR PROPERLY CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. ADDICTION HAS ROBBED THEM OF THEIR ABILITY TO LEARN AND GROW IN THESE AREAS. THE VOCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM AT THE MISSION WAS DEVELOPED TO MEET THESE NEEDS BY HELPING PARTICIPANTS GAIN THE NECESSARY SKILLS NEEDED TO RETURN TO SOCIETY BETTER EQUIPPED TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES. THERE ARE TWO PARTS TO THE PROGRAM - EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE.