By Mariann Martin | Jackson Sun
Some of them volunteer to help — the church members who lend their services to Room in the Inn or give donations. Some of them need a helping hand — the boys and girls of the HUB Club Choir, dressed in matching orange T-shirts, or the homeless men who need a hot meal.
All of them gathered at the annual fundraiser for Area Relief Ministries, held Sunday evening at the Northside United Methodist Church. More than 500 people attended.
“Area Relief Ministries, through Room in the Inn, has changed so many lives in this church,” Northside pastor Don Thrasher said before he offered the invocation at the beginning of the evening. “And we are glad to have everyone here tonight.”
Speakers, which included emcee Steve Bowers, ARM board president John Byler and state Sen. Lowe Finney, talked about the need to reach out to the less fortunate in the community and the impact ARM has had.
Executive Director Lisa Peoples said the needs in the community have tripled in the last few years as people struggle in the economic downturn. For example, ARM helped 2,300 people with utility bills in 2008-2009. That number increased to 5,100 in 2009-2010.
The organization recently launched a new website, a new logo and a new mission statement to better portray the work they do, Peoples said.
Some of programs added in recent years include an after-school and summer program for children, a day shelter for the homeless and Room in the Inn, a six-month winter program working with area churches to offer shelter for homeless men.
ARM is in the process of purchasing a building it plans to renovate to be used as a year-round shelter. People said they hope to close on the building soon.
Last year the fundraiser brought in about $35,000. This year their goal was $50,000.
“We want to try to alleviate suffering for people around us,” Peoples said.