Mt. Vernon Register-News

Local

November 3, 2009

Hope In Christ hosting fundraiser for homeless

By KANDACE MCCOY

kandace.mccoy@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Hope in Christ Ministries is raising awareness about homelessness by asking the public to stay home for a night.

November is National Homeless Awareness Month, and this year Hope in Christ Ministries is hosting a Stayin’ Home for the Homeless event.

“People can give a donation this year and stay home and relax knowing they gave to a ready cause and helped somebody,” explained Hope Stuckey, director of HICM. “For the last six years, we have raised awareness by sleeping outdoors in a box. But there has been so much sickness and the weather changing, we decided to do Stayin’ Home for the Homeless.”

Tickets can be purchased for $25 or “a generous donation,” Stuckey said, and proceeds will benefit the completion of the HICM Transitional Home located on Perkins Avenue and also a home for mothers and children located near HICM.

Stuckey says though the transitional home is nearly completed, volunteers are need to finish the kitchen and a heating system is needed. The home would help two single persons or a family of four, she said.

“Most calls we get right now are people being evicted,” Stuckey added. “And it’s so sad because people have been working or got laid off or lost their job. They need more than a shelter — they need an affordable place to live. If you don’t have a job, it’s hard because you don’t have any income. Once you lose your home and if you don’t have a job, how does a person bounce back? This is where the transitional home would help. If they had a job, they could save money for at least three months and that will help them get back on their feet.”

Stuckey said volunteers are also needed for the completion of the home for mothers and children, which could help a mother with one or two children.

“Somebody can benefit from it,” she said of the homes. “I’ve been getting so many calls and they’re not ready yet, and it’s getting colder out there. I would like to see it finished before the hard weather sets in.”

Donations for Stayin’ Home for the Homeless may be mailed to 1515 S. 14th St., Mt. Vernon, IL 62864.

For more information about Hope In Christ Ministries or its transitional homes, you may contact Stuckey at 241-9307.

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