Lincoln Joins Safe Place Program
Forty percent of students in the Lincoln Public School District were living in poverty last year. Roughly 1.5 percent of the district's student body, or more than 500 students, were homeless. Often these children, many of them teens, have been thrown out of their homes, or have left to escape abuse, drugs or alcohol. Now, thanks to a collaboration between the People's City Mission, LPS and Lincoln Berean and Two Pillars churches, these kids will have somewhere to go for help.
Starting in September, Lincoln will become part of project Safe Place, a national program that provides children with a safe haven when they need it most. In Lincoln, it will be run entirely through volunteers. Local businesses such as Hyvee stores, the Lincoln Journal Star, Scooters coffee houses, LPS schools and Lincoln Fire and Rescue stations will become the "safe places" for youth, displaying yellow signs in their windows to communicate that status. Trained employee volunteers will put kids who seek help in touch with Mission volunteers at the Mission itself or the new Homeless Prevention Center (2101 N Street), formerly called the Distribution Center. Trained volunteers will then help connect these children with available resources to help them out of their situation. Through the Safe Places program, Lincoln's troubled youth will have somewhere they can go for help.
Read more at the Lincoln Journal Star
Youth will be able to go to the Homeless Prevention Center Monday through Friday from six to ten in the evening, where they will be able to eat a meal, play games, take a nap or call family and friends.
|
|
CORA'S 5TH ANNUAL 4 X FEST TO "STUFF THE TRUCK" WITH FOOD FOR PEOPLE'S CITY MISSION
The People's City Mission was selected for the fifth year to receive the food donated at the 5th Annual Christian Off Roaders Association's 4 X FEST this Saturday, August 20th at Southview Baptist Church at 13th and Arapahoe (just north of 14th and HWY 2) in Lincoln, NE.
The event will feature a truck and Jeep show, an obstacle course for local off roaders and live music by local artists. Kids are encouraged to participate in the "Kids Crawl" sponsored by C.O.R.A. USA and you can enter in a drawing to win an RC Crawler from HobbyTown ( most be present to win, Ages 8 - 16).
People can attend the event for free by bringing a canned or non perishable food item to participate in the "Stuff the Trucks" food drive. All donated food items will go to the People's City Mission, and those who donate will be entered into drawings for door prizes throughout the day.
Don't miss CORA's 4 X Fest, this Saturday, August 20th at Southview Baptist Church.
|
|
Moving Toward Recovery
A year ago, People's City Mission medical clinic staff sent 62 year old Joe Wilson to a hospital emergency room, where he was diagnosed with cancer on his face and neck.
"When I came here to the Mission," Joe said, "I hadn't been diagnosed. I didn't know I was sick." After six months as a guest at the Mission, Joe was rapidly losing weight and strength. He also had a large lump on his neck. He visited the Mission clinic, and within fifteen minutes was en route to the hospital.
"They (PCM clinic staff) knew right away," he said, "but I had to go to the hospital and have the biopsies and cat scans." Joe immediately applied for and received Social Security and Medicaid, which have helped to cover his extensive hospital bills. Today, Joe is making progress toward recovery and, eventually, a move to Denver, Colorado to be with his son and only granddaughter.
Joe came to Lincoln to be with his son, who was working for Burlington Northern Railroad. Things went well for a while, but Joe fell heavily into alcohol and ended up at the Mission. His son was transferred to Denver, but Joe remained behind after his diagnosis to receive medical treatment. Dealing with his living arrangements and medical situation alone takes strength and stamina on Joe's part. After two years at the People's City Mission, he is ready to be on his own again, but appreciates that the Mission took the
time to help him when he needed it most.
"People are caring here," Joe said. "I'm kind of a hard guy... a lot of times I won't ask for help, but there've always been people here that will help me. They're pretty perceptive; they knew I needed help."
Joe plans to leave the Curtis Center at the end of October, and hopes to return to Colorado this spring.
|
|
Saving More Than Lives
This year the People's City Mission will assist almost 20,000 people living near the poverty line. More than 8,000 of those will be children. Read how one young girl was given the opportunity to go back to school with renewed confidence, thanks to the Mission and your help.
|
|
|
|
