If this makes any sense what so ever to the author, please email me back, if not feel free to delete me

sean.n.ashley@gmail.com

I am sharing an idea that has working in my small community, my hope in sharing it is to inspire others to find or start something in there own town.

One of the ways that the community I live in is responding was set into motion 18 months ago before we really began to see any of these increasing issues. It began in our ministerial association, when a new pastor asked "where do we send people in need of help in our community?" What began as a simple question soon raised the realization that we had huge gaps in our ability as a community and as churches to respond to people in need.

What we eventually began was a community assistance program called "My Neighbor." (www.MyNeighborBrookings.net) It is designed to be a resource for the ministerial to adequately asses the real and underlying needs of people who come to us for assistance, with the hope that we can enable them to avoid or get our of a cycle of need.

We have developed 3 main sources to assist people. First is connection to existing programs that they qualify for. Second is through funds that we raise. Third is by communicating to local congregations the specific need that people have and allow those who have the means and resources assist them directly. ie... a need for transportation, a baby bed, help moving.

I don't have up to date numbers but know that in our first year we connected people with near $20,000 in programs that they qualified for already but did not know about, $20,000 in assistance through grants and $20,000 from the Faith community to pay for operational costs.

We realize that the need will soon increase in our community and hope to continue to look for new ways to help those with needs.
Please post your own ideas and successes.

I will try not to lose sight of the larger picture that you identify in your introductory paragraph. Maybe "The Kids' Table" could be issued to all those churches that insist -- without having real evidence -- "we're a friendly church!"

Well done, Ron!

Jon Opgenorth