The Blessing Center is a social agency aimed in helping those of low income communities. Homeless individuals also benefit from their resources offered. The center’s missions statement is based on a Matthew 25 mandate that states, “Food for the hungry, Clothes for the Naked, Help for the Hurting.” Their moral mission is to help those who are unable to help themselves. Every day they provide one meal and one change of clothing for an individual. Also, once a week a low income family can line up with their $2 donation, proof of residency with their ID and receive a box full of food which is worth $75 and within a month they receive $300 worth of groceries. This is such a great aid to families who need food to feed their families. By doing so, they are preventing homelessness. The non profit organization is led by Pastor Craig Turley, it is entirely run by volunteers. In an article published in 2012 by Redlands Daily Fact News, Pastor Craig states,”I am personally invigorated by being around people that have need. I believe the grace of God, like water, flows to the lowest points. When people are at the lowest point of their life, that is when they need the most. Those that need the most should get the most. They are the most special because of that.” The center makes a great example of the Matthew 25 mandate, they assist hundreds of families. Community members from over twenty churches in the Redlands area come together to aid. I greatly appreciated this because it exemplifies that as a society we need to come together and aid individuals and families who are struggling and need to get back on their feet. It’s unfortunate that policies are not advocating or funding affordable housing or increased wages. Over the years, there has been an increase of those receiving aid from the Blessing Center.

Other services offered are the resource center and the New Hope Free Clinic. The clinic is comprised of volunteers from the Loma Linda Hospital which offers free dental and health screenings to those with no health insurance. It has been a great success with a long waiting list of those eager to receive care. The resource center helps with resumes, employment applications, skills needed for interviews, and tutoring for S.A.T and the G.E.D. The center has also hosted job fairs, where TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Ashley’s and Furniture, and Mcdonald’s are seeking to hire individuals! That was one of my favorite moments in volunteering, it was great to see individuals all dressed up with their resumes in hand ready to apply for work. Overall, it was eye opening to put a face to poverty and homelessness in the community. Taking this course on hunger and homelessness has allowed us to understand the structural components that contribute to these social issues. It gives me great hope that there are agencies willing to fight on behalf of the poor! If we all implement our knowledge, we can begin to eradicate hunger and homelessness in our communities.