Meet Virginia. Ginny is a single mom, who lives in a trailer home with her 4 children. She is our neighbor, because she is in zip code 64118 – the same zip code as Gashland EPC. Recently, a Social Worker came to her home, and told her that she must improve the living conditions or her kids would be placed in Foster Care. The old, worn-out carpeting was filthy, with crumbs and dust bunnies and other debris. The kids’ clothing was strewn about on the floor. She was told to vacuum the carpet, and she also needed to get the children’s clothing off the floor and into an appropriate dresser with drawers. Ginny is a teacher, and she is working hard to keep the children fed, but she cannot afford a vacuum cleaner, and she definitely cannot afford to buy dressers for the kids’ clothing. This is where CarePortal comes into the picture.

The Social Worker created a CarePortal request. That request was seen by the GEPC CarePortal Action Team (CAT), and the CAT swung into action. Some members of the Team donated money. Other members of the Team went shopping. Bottom line is this = we went to Ginny’s trailer home and delivered to her a vacuum cleaner, and two dressers for the kids’ clothing. We also invited her and her children to come to our church and worship with us.

Let me introduce you to another young mom. Molly is pregnant, and she has a two-year-old daughter. Molly and her toddler are also our neighbors, because they live in zip code 64118. This little girl needs some new clothes, and a pair of shoes. Once again, the Gashland CAT decided to help. We bought shoes and clothing, and really put a big smile on that beautiful little girl’s face.

Many of you already know about CarePortal, because it was discussed in an article in the January 2022 issue of The Porch. Click here to read!

If you wish to participate in CarePortal, there are a few ways you can help. First, please pray. Pray that God would use our CAT Team to make a significant impact on people’s lives. Pray that the people we touch will come to our church, and come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Remember what Jesus said about loving our neighbors (Matt. 22:39, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27), and what he said about ministering to the needs of “the least of these” ( Matt. 25:37-40).

If you wish to join the Gashland CAT, please email Caleb Mason at caleb@gashland.org.

If you wish to contribute money to support the CAT, please email Mark Johnson.