The first Tuesday of every month at 11:30 in the Mission and Fellowship Center of First Baptist Church you are invited to Dining for Jackson, to dine with a wonderful group of compassionate caring individuals who are working to support the amazing non-profits of Jackson County. Come and bring a covered dish and give what you would pay if you ate at a restaurant for lunch.
Each month a different non-profit will be featured and those attending will learn more about that organization – their goals and methods to reach those in great need in our community.
The non-profits shown in alphabetical order are: AWAKE, Center for Domestic Peace, Circles of Jackson, Equinox Ranch, Full Spectrum Farm, Habitat for Humanity, Hands on Jackson, Meals on Wheels, Rolling start, the Community Table, and United Christian Ministry.
I want to take this opportunity to thank all the folks who came in September and October. The fellowship was wonderful and the food great. But what was really special was that we were able to give United Christian Ministry well over a thousand dollars and the Center for Domestic Peace almost a thousand.
These non-profits are our heroes as they work tirelessly to help those in need in our county. In September we learned how United Christian Ministry provides food, and help with rent, water bills, and power bills, as well as gas for the car.
In October, Wes Myers with the Center for Domestic Peace gave a wonderful presentation to help us understand about their 24/7 Safeline (828-586-1237), their work with rape crisis victims, labor trafficking and sex trafficking victims, their emergency shelter, the court advocacy program, counseling referrals, and prevention and education programs for middle school and high school students as well as their work at Western Carolina University. We were told the importance of listening to folks and encouraging them to contact the Center if they are experiencing problems in their life.
Our world is changing and becoming more complicated and with that comes new problems but also new opportunities to help those around us.
At our next meeting on November 7, we will have a presentation by Dawn Neatherly, the Director of Circles of Jackson County and Rachel Byrd, the Client Services Coordinator. We will learn about the work they do and how we can be of help to them in the future. Circles works to help those who are striving to leave the poverty that is holding them back and help them to find good jobs and safe housing.
Generational poverty is prevalent in our county and we desperately want to help those folks to break the chains that are keeping them from living a better life.
So please consider joining us on November 7 or any first Tuesday of any month. If you are a pastor or business person, please come have lunch with us (don’t worry about bringing a covered dish) and hear the guest speaker for that day. We are right in town on Main Street. We are close enough for you to come during your lunch break and help us work to keep these non-profits working to meet the needs of so many in our county.
November is the month in which we give thinks for all our blessings. It is also a great time to give thanks for all the folks that volunteer their time and those who give so generously financially to keep these non-profits going.
I believe that Dining for Jackson is part of an overall purpose that God is working out in this community and its people. I truly feel that God has called Dining for Jackson to support these non-profits and to help others understand just what they do.
So, at lunch time on November 7, remember us and come join us for lunch. You will be blessed.