Help for the Homeless
Published 12:05 am Wednesday, October 30, 2019
- Members of New Rescue Mission Baptist Church are pictured at a recent Help the Homeless event in New Orleans. Donations are being accepted for the next distribution, scheduled for Dec. 8.
LAPLACE — Pastor Devin Mason of New Rescue Mission Baptist Church challenges members of the mission ministry to engage in an outreach event at least once every quarter.
This month, 37 volunteers distributed 65 care packages to the homeless population in New Orleans. Drawstring bags contained bottled water, sandwiches, personal hygiene items, hand sanitizers, toilet paper, paper towels, toothbrushes, toothpaste and more. Church members additionally donated blankets, shirts and socks to help prepare individuals for the colder months ahead.
Volunteers started the day under the bridge on Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans and continued to the bridge on Loyola Avenue. More donations will be distributed to the less fortunate when church members return to the area on Dec. 8.
“It’s part of my vision and my approach for our church to be something I call community conscious and mission minded,” Mason said. “It’s important that we focus not only on feeding people spiritually but also meeting the physical and social needs of people as well.”
New Rescue Mission Church member Coy Gray-McGee spearheaded the recent Help for the Homeless drive, and she is overseeing donations for the December event.
Several donations are needed at this time. Water, blankets, toilet paper, pads/tampons, underwear, wipes, face towels, deodorant, soap, lotion, toothpaste, and toothbrushes are greatly appreciated.
Donations are being collected at New Rescue Mission Baptist Church, located at 361 E. 14th Street in Reserve. The drop-off date is Nov. 30.
The next distribution in New Orleans will start at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8, and Mason said volunteers from across the River Parishes are welcome to take part in the effort.
For more information, call Coy at 985-210-9197 or Mason at 504-223-5373.
Other New Rescue Mission outreach events have included socks and throw blankets for local nursing homes and projects to help battered women.
“We are always looking for a shelter or an organization that we can help,” Mason said.
