Joppa • July 2011 Letter
Joppa
A Community Solution to Homelessness
“In Joppa, there was a disciple named Tabitha who was
always doing good and helping the poor.” Acts 9:36
Be a Tabitha! The world most definitely needs more
Tabithas! Why did Tabitha do it? Well, I’m sure she was driven by her feelings
of compassion for the poor and homeless in Joppa. I bet it also provided her
with a level of peace and joy. But, most of all, I’m sure she felt that gentle
nudging from the Holy Spirit calling her to this act of love.
As most of you know, every month that has 5 Sundays, a
group of us from the Early UMC travel to Des Moines on that 5th
Sunday to work with the folks of Joppa Outreach. What is Joppa? Their mission
is to create a community of unconditional love, support and hope for the
homeless and to help end homelessness in Polk County.
Joppa Outreach is a nonprofit
organization reaching homeless people in unique ways; in tents and shacks, in
doorways and abandoned buildings, in cars and under bridges. Wherever
unsheltered people are living, in and around Des Moines, volunteers visit with
them weekly; building relationships, providing humanitarian aid and helping with
specific needs.
There are as many reasons for homelessness as there are homeless people.
Some have lost jobs or family members; some have had accidents or unfortunate
medical issues; some are war veterans and young adults with no support system.
Addictions and mental illness are prevalent.
We have met some amazing people in
our work with Joppa. For example, on our last trip to Des Moines, we met
Anthony. He currently lives in a tent in a wooded area literally a stone’s
throw from the governor’s mansion. He is working toward his law degree at
DMACC. While he has had a run of bad luck, he is trying very hard to make a
better life for himself. Living in a tent is hopefully a temporary situation
for him. However, he tries to find the positive and says that it is a quiet
place to study.
Joppa volunteers not only visit the
unsheltered but also keep in contact with people who they have helped to
re-locate into apartments and houses. The goal here is to ensure that these
people succeed in their new environment because many times the stresses of
keeping up an apartment or home push them back into the camps and unsheltered
areas.
An example of someone in the
“after-care” program is Krysten. She is 30-year old mother of four children.
She was recently moved into a small home that was made possible through funding
from local churches and non-profit organizations. Her eyes lit up when she
talked to us about working toward her GED and doing very well in the pre-tests.
She has dreams of furthering her education either through beauty school or a CNA
program.
Joppa’s goal is to eliminate homelessness, which happens one family
or person at a time. Sometimes it's just a matter of helping people
reconnect with family and friends, and get transportation back home.
So, how can you help? If possible, I hope that you
will join us on a trip to Des Moines and experience firsthand this unique
outreach approach. You’ll likely find it as rewarding as we do – to meet and
make a difference in the hearts and lives of unsheltered people in Des Moines.
But, there are other ways you can help:
·
Monetary donations: Operating entirely
on donations from individuals, families, churches and concerned organizations,
Joppa volunteers build relationships while helping the unsheltered to
stay warm, dry and healthy.
·
Donate items for the sack lunches we take on our trips to Des
Moines, or help assemble lunches before we go.
·
Donate quality apartment furnishings and supplies including:
o
Living room and bedroom furniture
o
Pots & pans, dishes, silverware and basic kitchen supplies
o
Microwaves, toaster ovens, toasters and hotplates
o
Towels, bedding and bathroom furnishings
o
Cleaning supplies, laundry detergent and dish soap
·
Knit or crochet a prayer shawl for someone served by Joppa who is
in extra need of prayer.
·
Pray for Joppa founders Joe and Jackie Stevens, Joppa social
worker Ashley and Joppa volunteers Diana, Kellie, Tom and everyone who
volunteers on the outreach routes on Sundays. Pray that those served by Joppa
might see the unconditional love of Christ through the Joppa workers and
volunteers and that they might be encouraged and helped through this outreach.
Our next trip to Des Moines will be July 31st!
We typically leave immediately after church (10:00 am) and arrive back in Early
by 7:00 pm. Please consider joining us that day, with a Tabitha heart, and see
first-hand how Christ is working through this organization and in the lives of
the unsheltered in Des Moines.
Contact Dennis or Robin Wissink or Jodi or Kristi Bihrer if
you are interested in helping in anyway.
EXIT
