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Waterfront Volunteers Help Ministry Village

Ministry Village at Olive is thankful for all of the partners we have throughout the community who join forces to make a difference for our neighbors.

Ministry Village at Olive is thankful for all of the partners we have throughout the community who join forces to make a difference for our neighbors. Recently, our friends at Waterfront Rescue Mission volunteered to help us with some projects around our campus.

Jody Shoop, Director of Ministry Operations at Waterfront Rescue Mission, wanted participants in her LifeBuilder 90 day residential recovery program to participate in a community service project. Ministry Village at Olive was one of the first organizations she called, asking MVO Executive Director Drayton Smith if there were any projects where her Waterfront volunteers could make a difference. “We had several projects around the campus – projects that required manual labor – that needed to be addressed,” said Drayton. “I explained to Jody the types of things we needed and she said that her team of volunteers could take care of those things for us. It was certainly a blessing.”

Waterfront’s LifeBuilder Recovery Program is “a 90-day, residential, outcomes-driven Addiction Recovery Center, designed to help a man rebuild his life.” The four men who volunteered at MVO moved some ground-up asphalt, picked up two trailer-loads of sticks and branches that littered the Ministry Village property, and helped the tree company who was trimming dead limbs from large oaks by carrying tree limbs to the grinder. They worked for 3 hours on campus, and enjoyed being able to give back to the community they love and want to support.

Thank you to Jody and all of our friends at Waterfront Rescue Mission for using your tender hearts and caring hands in service of our ministry. “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11

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Taking a LEAP with Health & Hope and Ministry Village

Since 2014, the Health & Hope Clinic – a volunteer, donor-driven clinic established to meet the needs of the uninsured and medically underserved residents of Escambia County – has been a part of the Ministry Village at Olive campus.

Join Leadership Pensacola, the Health & Hope Clinic and Ministry Village at Olive at the ribbon-cutting for the new pergola and garden on Tuesday, May 3. The ceremony is scheduled for 11:30 AM to 1 PM, with light refreshments and the ribbon-cutting at noon. The gazebo is located between the Ministry Village office and the Health & Hope Clinic. Parking is available in the parking lot in front of the Health & Hope Clinic.

Since 2014, the Health & Hope Clinic – a volunteer, donor-driven clinic established to meet the needs of the uninsured and medically underserved residents of Escambia County – has been a part of the Ministry Village at Olive campus. Ministry Village partners with Health & Hope to reach members of our community who need medical care, and together, our organizations minister to their physical, spiritual and emotional needs. During the covid pandemic, Health & Hope Executive Director Sally Bergosh was faced with a new dilemma – how to minister to clients while protecting them from potential community spread of the covid virus. Waiting rooms were closed. There was not enough space to allow for social distancing as patients waited inside the clinic. And many of the Health & Hope clients didn’t have a car where they could sit and wait.

After brainstorming with her colleagues for ideas to assist their clients, Sally learned about a grant opportunity through Leadership Pensacola (LEAP)– a program of the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce. The grant was designed to help complete a new or existing community project – something that would help a local non-profit better serve the needs of its clients. Sally contacted Ministry Village at Olive with her idea for a gazebo area – a place where clients for Health & Hope as well as Ministry Village could wait in a shaded, comfortable setting outside in the fresh air, until it was time for their appointments or for their rides to pick them up. Sally and her team got to work on writing the project application and submitted it to LEAP, competing with 70 other local non-profits for the grant dollars. As with so many other businesses and projects, covid slowed the project for a time, but in 2021, Sally and her team were able to present their idea to LEAP as a finalist in the grant process and they won!

“Between our two entities, clients are usually in need of a place to wait that is safe and clean,” explained Sally Bergosh, Executive Director of Health & Hope Clinic. “Our patients wait for their appointments or for rides (bus, Uber, etc.). Ministry Village clients wait for the food pantry to open, to pick up hygiene packs, to use the public showers, for an appointment to apply for utility assistance, or for their rides after an appointment. We also have wonderful volunteers that take breaks during the time they are on our campus serving. This space offers everyone an opportunity to get outside and take a breath! God has continued to bless these ministries, and having this project completed for us is certainly a blessing!”

Beautiful flowers and trees were incorporated into the design for the outdoor space, and many of the 500 square feet of red clay pavers will be engraved with the names of supporters and donors. There will be electrical outlets for cell-phone charging, and a shaded seating area. The gazebo will be a smoke-free space.

“The LEAP Class has done an amazing job of organizing, fundraising and implementing this project. We are so excited to watch it take shape and be put to great use by our clients!”

  • The Ribbon Cutting will take place between the Ministry Village at Olive office and the Health & Hope Clinic (1716 E. Olive Road). The ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, May 2 from 11:30 AM to 1 PM, with light refreshments, and the ribbon-cutting at noon. Parking is available in front of the Health and Hope Clinic.

  • To learn more about the Health and Hope Clinic, visit their website at healthandhopeclinic.org or their Facebook page @healthandhopeclinic. Clinic hours are by appointment only. Call (850) 479-4456 during the following times to schedule a visit.Monday, Wednesday & Friday – 8:30am-12pm; Tuesday &Thursday – 5:00-8:00pm.

  • The mission of Ministry Village at Olive is to put the words of Jesus into action throughout our community – “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40, NIV)

  • Tender Hearts Caring Hands is MVO’s benevolence program, which provides family food bags as well as financial assistance including rent and utilities to those who qualify. THCH is also a lifeline to a large number of homeless men and women in the area who depend greatly on the hygiene bags and ready-to-eat food items THCH provides.

  • Tender Hearts Caring Hands accepts donations Monday through Friday, from 9AM to 2PM at the Ministry Village at Olive office (1716 E. Olive Road). Donations of nonperishable food items and travel-size hygiene items are accepted. Financial donations are appreciated and go toward purchasing the items THCH distributes each day. Supporters can also make purchases through Amazon and items can be shipped directly to the Ministry Village at Olive office.

  • To learn more about Ministry Village at Olive, visit www.ministryvillage.org or their Facebook page @ministryvillage

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Thanking the Hands and Hearts Who Serve

In honor of National Volunteer Appreciation Month in April, Ministry Village at Olive is recognizing all of the hands and hearts who serve our community with us.

In honor of National Volunteer Appreciation Month in April, Ministry Village at Olive is recognizing all of the hands and hearts who serve our community with us.

Last week, we recognized those who work with Tender Hearts Caring Hands and the Ministry Village Bargain Center. This week, we want to take a moment to thank our volunteers who work with the Most Excellent Way, the Ministry Village Early Learning Center, and the Charis House.

Most Excellent Way volunteers guide recovery meetings and provide a listening ear and loving, Bible-based support to those struggling with addiction in their lives. MEW Director Scott Heald would like to recognize Todd Robinson, Morgan Robinson, Isreal Fisher, Chad Jordan, Terry Matthews, Stacey Paden and Teddy Robinson. Thank you for your dedication and for your steadfast support of those who are working to find a new road to travel in life.

Life moves fast around the Ministry Village Early Learning Center, and there is always some sort of project or repair that needs to be taken care of to keep the ELC safe and clean for our littlest Ministry Village clients. Kristi Zagar, Director of the ELC, would like to thank Huey Pearson for his willingness to help no matter the project. Mr. Huey also has a faithful team of recruits that he calls on when the job needs more than one pair of hands. Thank you to all of those who help keep our ELC in tip-top shape!

Volunteers at the Charis House provide loving care to the women in the program, and Charis House Director Vanessa Bettis appreciates how each one of the volunteers pour into the lives of the Charis House ladies. Thank you to all of the facilitators for the love you provide while teaching the ladies on a daily basis to forget what lies behind and reach forward to what lies ahead – pressing toward the goal for the prize of God’s calling. Our list of volunteer teachers include Amy Odom, Pat Neisen, Huey & Susan Pearson, Rita Kukuk, Sharon Glass, Vicki Wolfe, Michelle Smith, Marylynn McDonald, Jeff Gray, Carolyn Cobb, Carol Knight, Gail Powell, Carol Smith, Charles & Peggy Carnley, Beth Morris, and Susan Gray. Thank you to our volunteer craft team who do monthly craft projects with the ladies – Charlotte Anderson, Audrey Slater, Deshni Pillay, Tonya Portmann, and Sandra Griffin. And a big thanks to our maintenance volunteers, who keep things repaired around our Charis House buildings and offices – Huey Pearson, Ron Adkison and Steve Niesen.

Thank you to all of these special friends and supporters who make our jobs easier and more delightful. It is a blessing to serve alongside others who have a passionate desire to share Jesus with our neighbors and take action.

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Volunteers Make Our Days Brighter at MVO

April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month, and Ministry Village at Olive has a dedicated team of volunteers who not only make our days brighter but also make the work we do possible. We absolutely could not reach the community for Jesus without all of the helping hands and hearts who serve selflessly alongside us.

Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month, and Ministry Village at Olive has a dedicated team of volunteers who not only make our days brighter but also make the work we do possible. We absolutely could not reach the community for Jesus without all of the helping hands and hearts who serve selflessly alongside us.

The Tender Hearts Caring Hands ministry relies on a large roster of volunteers to help restock, inventory, organize, bag and distribute food bags and reach out to the homeless, as well as to take incoming calls for help and track assistance data, and teach the weekly budget class to those needing financial assistance. Program Director Kathleen Schuster is thankful for the dedication of her team of volunteers, and knows that THCH would not run without their faithful support.

Thank you to Bernie Alidor, Dane Allen, David Hoyt, Doris Young, Gaye Parazine, Gene Myatt, Huey Pearson, Jerald Miller, Jeremy Hans, Pam Isbell, Randy Wright, Ron Riles, Ronda Arnold, Sandy Isbell, Shirley Huffman, Steve Nelson, Tammy Davis, Tom Cacciatore, Wayne Forbush, Barbara Fitzpatrick, Kim Benson, Joy Tyner, Ron Adkison, Bob Duncan, Marie Anthony, Faith Pendo and Mary Graybeal, as well as the ladies from SHE who consistently donate items for our homeless and shower ministries.

At the Ministry Village Bargain Center, Store Manager Julie Paden depends on the help of her dedicated volunteers to help stock the book room,s ort and hang the clothing donations, sort, clean and price hardgoods, and keep the Bargain Center running smoothly to maximize money raised for Ministry Village programs. Thank you to Kathy Clements, Margie Adkison, Patty Trent, Charlotte Anderson, Audrey Salter, Leon Salter, Susan Young, and Sarah and Jerry Bennett.

Thank you to all of these special friends and supporters who make our jobs easier and more delightful. It is a blessing to serve alongside others who have a passionate desire to share Jesus with our neighbors and take action.

Next week, we’ll highlight volunteers who serve through the Charis House, Early Learning Center and Most Excellent Way ministries.

  • The mission of Ministry Village at Olive is to put the words of Jesus into action throughout our community – “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40, NIV)

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