Several weeks ago I wrote an article for our Doubter Newsletter about ways in which we at St. Thomas could help with the dire needs many of our neighbors in South Dallas are facing. Many families living in the southern sector of our city are living on the edge – and the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed them right over. There are a number of agencies in Dallas that are doing what they can to lend a helping hand providing much needed food, clothing, medical attention and financial assistance. And one of them is Inspired Vision Compassion Center. Their Vision Statement is “Touching God Reaching People” which certainly can resonate with us at St. Thomas!
From their website: Located in Mesquite, Inspired Vision Compassion Center was started with one mission… to feed the hungry of Dallas. If anyone could take on such a daunting task, it’s the visionary founder, Karen Belknap. With the assistance of Dr. Teadran White, her daughter, and Trevalon Belknap, her son, she proceeds every day to organize the receipt and distribution of semi-truck loads of food and necessities for families of our community.
Inspired Vision Compassion Center has a vision to change the spiritual, emotional and educational brokenness and poverty in the City of Dallas, and then in other regions. Their goal is to bring change and transformation to the lives in our community, through salvation, mentoring, education and support systems.
I have been able to make contact with Dr. White. I also took a look at their website to see what this agency is providing – ALL AT NO CHARGE WHATSOEVER! For starters: FREE grocery store, thrift store, emergency hygiene and medical supplies, animal supplies, professional clothing, furniture, baby items, school supplies and uniforms, pediatric clinics, senior wellness checks, education classes, pastoral care. And prayer. The list goes on. ALL FREE.
I told Dr. White that we’re a small church but we can do our part to help. I suggested we bring lunch to the 50-75 volunteers who work there and she gratefully accepted our offer. So we’re taking lunch to Inspired Vision Compassion Center tentatively set for the end of July. This is what we will need – all for 75 lunches:
- Fruit that can be peeled – Cutie oranges or bananas (not green!)
- Individual bags of Chips
- Water
- Cookies – individually bagged
- Sub Sandwiches – (I will order these)
As we get closer to our lunch date, I’ll fill in the specifics. In the meantime if you are interested in helping, send me an email or text (both are in our directory) and I’ll start a “lunch group!” I do believe this truly is a way we can live into our mission of Helping Hand, Healing Hearts, Welcome All.
– The Rev. Virginia Holleman
