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Becky Watts: Phone # 770-468-7583 editor(@)pikecountytimes.com
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Stacy Berry, Crystal Badgett, and Wendy Sawyer from Just Because Ministries pictured with Kiwanis President Ric Calhoun and Kiwanis Board member Trisha Dabbs. Kiwanis of Pike made a donation to support the work of Just Because Ministries.
Stacy Berry, Crystal Badgett, and Wendy Sawyer from Just Because Ministries pictured with Kiwanis Secretary Jason Brisendine. Kiwanis of Pike made a donation to support the work of Just Because Ministries.
Students from Pike County High helping with tornado relief.
Students from Pike County High helping with tornado relief.
Donations for tornado relief.
Donations for tornado relief.
Donations for tornado relief.
Donations for tornado relief.
By Editor Becky Watts
ZEBULON - Just Because Ministries spoke before Kiwanis on January 19, 2023. This minstry was created" to recognize people in our community who feel left out or unseen by extending kindness and encouragement with the hopes of bringing joy." It is based on Isaiah 6:8: "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send And who will go for us' and I said, 'Here I am, Send Me!'"
It began in 2019 with a dream and a yard sale. Stacy told how she took a pencil box full of change to start a bank account. Since then, they have participated in the Prayer Walk for students every year, did fundraisers to help community members with needs, been a Pick Your Pirate participant, gathered items for Backpack Project 2022 (every backpack is prayed over before it is given to the recipients), brought snacks and hydration fluids to the PCHS football team as an act of kindness, encouraged Board of Education members, bus drivers, and law enforcement, delivered 100 snack bags for veterans at the VA, and gifted 110 students and 6 families during Operation Pike County.
Operation Pike County had a goal to provide Christmas for kids that would otherwise not have one. Kiwanis of Pike County presented a check for $1,000 to help and that was added to the $1,500 raised in the community for a total of $2,500! A hundred students were provided with gift bags for Christmas. Each bag was prayed over before it was delivered to the school. “You didn’t know who we were, and you trusted us,” she said. “Thank you!”
Just Because Ministries has also been in the Pike County Bicentennial Christmas Parade with about 16 kids and sold hot chocolate on the Pike County Bicentennial Christmas Market on the Square event, and Stacy's husband--who is a walking miracle!-- played Santa for this ministry at the Bicentennial Christmas Market Place on the Square!
Future plans include becoming a 501(c)3 and looking for a storage unit to hold items for the yard sale year around. The yard sale will be around the end of May, and yes, they will be accepting donations as soon as they find a way to store donated items. There will also be a Backpack Project 2023.
Ways to Help and Ask Questions
You can contact Just Because Ministries at JBMKindness@gmail.com or on FB.
Monetary donations can be sent to: Just Because Ministries, PO Box 645, Zebulon, GA 30295. Just Because Ministries also has Cash App and PayPal shown in the pictures above.
Tornado Relief for Spalding County
Stacy told Kiwanis members that she is excited for what the future hold and said that Just Because Ministries is doing what He (the Lord) wants. This includes partnering with the PCHS Student Council and Clubs to help with Spalding County Tornado/Disaster Relief. “I want us to see Him through this (relief effort),” she said.
The public can participate too. Donations can be dropped off at PCHS in Room 202, which is Mrs. Douglas’ class. Just Because Ministries will be picking up donations on Friday, January 20 and Friday, January 27 to deliver to the Donation Center in Griffin. Kiwanis of Pike donated $250 toward Tornado Relief at last Thursday's meeting.
Donations that are needed include:
- Toiletries (new) – toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, chapstick, and feminine hygiene supplies.
- Depends for adults, children’s diapers, baby food, formula
- Non-perishable foods like tuna, chicken, crackers, protein bars, beef sticks, chips, individually wrapped snacks. Manual can openers are needed for opening some types of cans.
- Flashlights with batteries, extra batteries
- Tarps, blankets, hand warmers, socks
- Drinks other than water like Gatorade and Powerade
- Cat litter, dry cat and dog food, wet dog food for puppies, leashes-anything to help displaced animals
Students are also being encouraged to bring their parents and friends to volunteer to help with debris clean up with Samaritan’s Purse on Saturday and Sunday. Click here for more.
There are also ways to volunteer at the Donation Center located at 220 East Solomon Street in Griffin. Same goes for Animal Control with walking displaced animals or temporarily homing displaced animals for families. Call 678-453-4508 for more information or to volunteer.
Closing
The first load of donations was delivered on Friday of last week and another will go out tomorrow. The lunches from last week were picked up by Sheriff's Department for delivery to places that were hit the hardest and also went to shut ins.
Keep an eye out for pictures of this week's donations as well as notification of how long this project will continue. Thanks to all who have contributed so far!