Since February 2018, I have been leading and financially supporting this humanitarian effort to relieve the suffering of the people of Salem New Jersey and the surrounding area. While challenging and exhausting at times, my experience has also been very rewarding seeing individuals make breakthroughs in their individual areas of personal trials.
In our work we found about 42.2% of the population in Salem, NJ (2.01k out of 4.75k people) live below the poverty line, which is higher than the national average of 12.3% and we found the largest demographic living in poverty are males less than five years old. Our efforts are in the following general areas:
Children and Youth Ministry: Focusing on healthcare development needs, hunger, homelessness, life skills, character building classes, social justice programs, and day care services.
Women’s Ministry: We found females 35 – 44 and females 55 – 64 as a group the most in need of assistance in dealing with homelessness, hunger, abuse, addiction, healthcare, and violence.
Men’s Ministry: Concentrating on character development, homelessness, addiction, healthcare, violence, skills and job development, and family leadership principles.
Veteran’s Ministry: Centers on PTSD issues, anger management, healthcare, addiction, suicide prevention, and benefit entitlements.
Grief Ministry: Assisting individuals cope with loss, like the death of a spouse, partner, family member, friend, colleague, or pet. Assisting in finding professional counselor, therapist, psychologist, or support groups to address individual’s feelings. In the short term, we assist individuals navigate the aftermath of a loss and make practical decisions, like funeral arrangements. In the long term, we assist individuals accept the loss of their loved one and adapt to life without them.
Advocacy Ministry: Supporting individuals in finding the resources to understand their rights regarding housing and landlord/tenant relationships, availability of mental health resources, availability of substance abuse resources, and availability of healthcare resources. Our Advocates work independently from any local authorities or health/social care professionals, and so the individuals we support are confident that our focus is to provide for their needs in the first instance.
I recognize that the demands on resources of time and finance are tremendous, however, if not now, then when do we make a difference in the lives of our fellow human beings?
