You will all remember the amazing work put in to the Shepherd's Soiree last, September.  What a wonderful time of fellowship and fun and what an amazing scene of generosity on the part of Good Shepherd members and beyond!  Recently the Vestry of Good Shepherd voted to distribute the funds from the Soiree and are pleased to announce the following ministries to beneift.

The Vestry voted to distribute $10,000 of funds received from our Good Shepherd Soiree to the newly developing Tar River Mission Clinic.  This is the largest gift from the community that the clinic has received.  The Tar River Mission Clinic will provide health services for the working poor in Rocky Mount, Nash & Edgecombe Counties.  Many members of Good Shepherd have been working hard to make the clinic a reality.  To qualify for assistance one will need to be a Resident of Nash or Edgcombe counties and be between the ages of 19 to 64.  (Folks 18 and younger are usually eligible for some form of Medicaid coverage and the same with Seniors 65 and above).  One also must not have any access to private insurance or any other government payer programs such as Vetranan's benefits.  Also be within a certain range of the poverty level in household income.  The clinc will be open on Thursday evenings each week, alternating between the Health Department in Nash County and in Edcombe county.  Director Gene Wilson, says the clinic will try to focus on those with chronic diseases where the largest impact on improving the long-term quality of life can be made.  

The Vestry voted to distribute $5,000 of Soiree funds to a newly developing ministry entitled FIGS (Filling In The Gaps).  FIGS is a newly developing fund with hopes that other churches in the community will participate.  The FIGS funds puts aside funds for churches so that when persons come to the doors of the church seeking assistance we can refer them to the Social Services Departments of Nash and Edcombe countieis.  We provide bus passes for transportation to Social Services if it's needed.  There, professionally trained social workers can assess the true needs of the individuals.  Should they determine a true need, and should there be no other government programs that apply to helping with that need the social workers will contact the church for approval to provide the help through the FIGS fund.  The money stays at the church, the professionals are sought for true assessement of need and the church staff and clergy better know that they are truly helping a person in need.

The Vestry voted to distribute $5,000 of Soiree funds to a newly developing ministry entitled Debbie's Fund. The memorial fund will be a newly established endowment fund of The Church of the Good Shepherd. It's proceeds will be used solely for the purposes of providing financial resources to non-profit organizations that work to provide assistance to those in need of food, shelter and other basic services. These are all ministries that were at the heart of Good Shepherd member, Debbie Kornegay who was tragically murdered last October at the hands of the very type of person she spent her life seeking to help. Major funds will be be sought from the wider community to grow the fund and wider members of the community will sit on the Advisory Board of Debbie's Fund. You will be hearing more about plans to "launch" the funds in coming months.