Love In The Name Of Christ Of The Tanana Valley

MOBILIZE THE CHURCH TO TRANSFORM LIVES AND COMMUNITIES IN THE NAME OF CHRIST. LOCAL CHURCHES COME TOGETHER AS A NETWORK. IT IS A COOPERATIVE PARTNERSHIP THAT ENABLES CHURCHES TO MAKE A LASTING IMPACT TO HELP INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND CHILDREN OVERCOME THEIR OBSTACLES AND SET THEM ON A PATH FOR SUCCESS.

THE CLEARINGHOUSE IS THE FOUNDATION OF LOVE INC. VOLUNTEERS IN THE CLEARINGHOUSE SCREEN AND VERIFY REQUESTS FOR HELP AND REFERS THE REQUEST TO A LOCAL CHURCH MINISTRY, CHURCH VOLUNTEER, OR COMMUNITY AGENCY (TO AVOID SERVICE DUPLICATION). THROUGH REFERRALS, VOLUNTEERS ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE PRACTICAL NEEDS OF THE POOR AND NEEDY IN THE FAIRBANKS NORTH STAR BOROUGH WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, CREED, OR RELIGION. IN 2019, THE CLEARINGHOUSE RECEIVED 1,506 REQUESTS FOR HELP; 141 REQUESTS WERE REFERRED TO AGENCIES AND 1116 NEEDS WERE REFERRED TO CHURCHES AND LOVE INC PROGRAMS. VOLUNTEERS DONATED 4,116 HOURS SERVING THIS CLIENTELE.

LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING CAUSES MANY FAMILIES TO COUCH SURF AND LIVE ON THE STREETS. LOVING FAMILIES IS OUR SOLUTION TO FAMILY HOMELESSNESS IN THE TANANA VALLEY. LOVING FAMILIES IS A ROTATING SHELTER MODEL WITH OVER A DOZEN HOST CONGREGATIONS. EACH WEEK THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ARE CARED FOR BY VOLUNTEERS AT LOCAL CHURCHES. THESE FAMILIES ARE PROVIDED A SAFE LOVING ENVIRONMENT TO SAFELY RAISE THEIR CHILDREN WHILE HAVING THEIR BASIC NEEDS PROVIDED FOR. IN 2019, FAMILIES RECEIVED 1,556 BED NIGHTS AND 4,672 MEALS. FAMILIES ARE PROVIDED MENTORING AND COACHING BY LOVE INC STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES. VOLUNTEERS SERVED 7,117 HOURS PROVIDING FOR THESE FAMILIES.

LIMITED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, A HARSH CLIMATE AND LONG DISTANCES BETWEEN PLACES OF BUSINESS ALL CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM. LOVE INC IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF FREE DOOR TO DOOR RIDES IN FAIRBANKS. SINCE ITS' INCEPTION IN 1992 THROUGH DECEMBER 2018, THE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED 82,700 RIDES. IN 2019 THE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM PROVIDED 935 TRIPS TO AREA CITIZENS. LOVE INC COORDINATES THE RIDE SCHEDULES WITH VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE SET ASIDE ONE DAY PER WEEK, EITHER A MORNING OR AFTERNOON, TO BE AVAILABLE TO GIVE RIDES. ADDITIONAL RIDES ARE GIVEN THROUGH CHURCH VOLUNTEERS FOR CLIENTS WHOSE NEEDS DIDN'T FIT THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR A PROGRAM REFERRAL.FOOD BOX DELIVERIES AND MEALS: EACH YEAR, THE LOCAL FOOD BANK PREPARES THOUSANDS OF FOOD BOXES. EACH YEAR LOVE INC PROVIDES DELIVERIES OF THOSE FOOD BOXES TO FAMILIES WHO LACK TRANSPORTATION AND MEANS TO PICK UP THEIR FOOD. N 2019, 597 FOOD BOXES WERE DELIVERED TO FAMILIES SO THEY COULD PREPARE THE MEAL ON THEIR OWN.ADOPT A FAMILY: CHURCHES, CIVIC GROUPS, AND BUSINESSES "ADOPT" CAREFULLY CHOSEN FAMILIES NEEDING HELP AT CHRISTMAS. THE FAMILIES IN THIS PROGRAM ARE REFERRED TO THE PROGRAM. THIS IS NOT ASSISTANCE THAT CLIENTS CAN REQUEST. REFERRALS ARE GATHERED FROM SCHOOL COUNSELORS, CHURCH PASTORS, AND FROM THE LOVE INC CLEARINGHOUSE. THE CHOSEN FAMILIES ARE INTERVIEWED TO FIND OUT ABOUT THEIR NEEDS - THINGS THAT WOULD BENEFIT THE FAMILY SUCH AS GROCERIES, FUEL, CLOTHING, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, ETC. AS WELL AS "FUN" IDEAS FOR THE KIDS. EACH GROUP UPON BEING "MATCHED" WITH A FAMILY, ARE PROVIDED WITH THEIR CUSTOMIZED LIST OF NEEDED ITEMS AND IDEAS ON THE MOST BENEFICIAL WAYS TO HELP EACH FAMILY. IN 2019, 42 FAMILIES INCLUDING 69 ADULTS AND 123 CHILDREN WERE BLESSED AT CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE ADOPT-A-FAMILY PROGRAM BY 39 SPONSORS.