Last year’s donations to the City Welfare Mission helped more than 10,000 people, but more assistance is needed this year to continue the tradition of caring for which the mission is known.

Monday, April 10, 2000

Last year’s donations to the City Welfare Mission helped more than 10,000 people, but more assistance is needed this year to continue the tradition of caring for which the mission is known.

"The needs of people are still many and we need your help to help them," the Rev. Jim Cremeans said. "We are in need of monthly supporters who will send a gift of any size – no gift is too small – to help us remain the ‘Door of Hope to the Unfortunate.’"

The mission helped a total of 4,284 families that included 6,223 adults and 5,800 children this year, as well as 314 homeless persons, according to its annual report.

In that assistance, 1,514 families received food orders, 141 families had their utilities paid, 29 families had their rent paid, 34 families received medical and other assistance, 1,512 families received used and new clothing, 21 people had prescriptions filled, 390 families were given furniture, 18 families were burn outs, seven people were given bus tickets, 403 meals were served at Thanksgiving, 974 children received toys for Christmas, 647 families received Christmas food baskets, 30 families received automobile assistance, 314 people received lodging, 9,438 people were served meals at the mission and 49 children were sent to summer youth camp.

"This is the biggest year we ever had," Cremeans said. "It was kind of surprising. Usually we go anywhere from 3,700 to 4,000 families."

Helping so many people can sometimes be difficult, especially when donations run low, Cremeans said.

"It’s tough to keep up with the demand," he said. "We just take her one day at a time. People are good to help us and support us. If not for the community, churches and businesses – we couldn’t do it without everybody helping us to help them."

But more help is needed, especially if the mission is to continue offering assistance to a growing number of people, Cremeans said.

"I do think things are a little better than they have been, but there are still lots of needs," he said. "Even though we’ve been here for 55 years, we’re better known. We stretch out all over the county and that’s a lot of it."

The mission collects donations of food, clothing and good used furniture year-round.

"Just give as much as you can," Cremeans said. "The blessings of the Lord more than repays anything we give to help others."

The church also conducted 237 religious services at the mission, 52 services at the jail, 92 services at rest homes, 104 radio broadcasts and 94 television broadcasts this year.

The church participated in vacation bible school, which saw an attendance of 92 people per day.

The mission is located at 710 N. Fifth St. in Ironton. The office phone number is 532-5041.