While my time at my small local organization is over, I am pleased at the sheer amount of work that they do for the local low-income and homeless community. This organization started with a food pantry and has expanded to a food pantry, clothing distribution site, a medical clinic, a dental clinic, a AIDS programs, computer classes, GED classes, job preparedness classes, and even a off site women’s shelter. While this organization has seen large growth they are still continuing to grow and are currently looking for larger facility to move to. The organization is funded completely from donations, volunteers, and a small amount of grants from local businesses. They would rather not have government funding or grants due to the amount of requirements needed to get the grant and sustain it as well. For instance, if they have certain government funding for food they would need to get each recipient’s individual identification, a piece of mail from their property, and their social security number each time they went to the food pantry. By not using governmental funding they choose to put their faith in God that he will provide them with what they need. For example, just the week prior one of their delivery trucks had broken down yet the next day they unexpectedly received a three thousand dollar check in the mail from an anonymous donor. This three thousand dollar check immediately went to fixing the broken truck. Putting their faith in God to provide for the organization has helped them reach more individuals in need by not relying on restrictive governmental funding.

It is important to note that the organization would not be in existence and helping as many people as they do without their faith. I believe that their faith has brought together volunteers and the less fortunate to give and receive aid together. They have created relationships with the homeless and low-income while providing them with aid. Unfortunately, while the organization is committed to helping the community, volunteers seem to use sick talk discourse when speaking about the less fortunate. If the volunteers had more knowledge of the structural issues they would be better prepared to help the community without this discourse. While they do not have this structural knowledge, it is important to note that the service they are giving is aiding hundreds of families and homeless each week. Even with the occasional sick talk discourse among the volunteers, the organization still manages to treat the homeless and low-income with respect and dignity.