Operation Reach Out Campus Ministries

Serving the physical & spiritual needs of those in Monroe and Union County, NC, since 1987

“Whatever you did for these my brothers and sisters, you also did for me.” (Matt 25:40)

Fall is just around the corner! That means our annual "Taste of Union" fundraiser is just a few weeks away. Please go to our website at www.opreachout.org and order your tickets now! Your support makes it possible for staff and volunteers to make life a little easier for those who come to us for help.

On another note, if you have a couch, love seat, recliner, kitchen table or any household items, call our office (704-289-4237) and we will come pick them up.

As the change of seasons come, our needs change. We are seeing an increase in substance abuse and homelessness in Union County. If you know someone who has training in these areas we could use the help!

Thanks for all your help—we truly do appreciate your prayers and support!

From Our Director

Families served:

134

Food given:

$1,890 / 3,623.5 pounds

Clothing, shoes,

furniture, household items

given:

$1,717.50

Financial Aid/Food

Purchases/Special

Projects:

$4,286.66

Items donated to

other ministries:

$200

GRAND TOTAL:

$8,094.16

What We Gave

in Aug 2018

September 2018

James Sessoms Executive Director

Saturday, September 29th 5:30-8:00 pm

First Presbyterian Church 302 E. Windsor St., Monroe

Thank you to volunteer Marcella Wallace (3rd from left) for the many months she served at our reception desk! Other ORO staff (left to right): Chiron Monte, Monica Melton, Kim Dennis (seated), Jay Frazier, Calvin Kilgo, and Chris Rice.

See page 4 for more information and for a flyer that can be printed and

distributed to family, friends, co-workers, & neighbors.

Page 2

Sharing Our Blessings

VALUE CLOTHING (Salisbury, NC)—ships

clothing, bedding, shoes, books overseas to countries in need. (We gave 104 bags & 46 boxes of clothes, linens, & books in Aug.)

CHESCO (Chesterfield County, SC)—facility

that serves disabled adults. Their thrift stores provide safe, on-the-job training for those with disabilities. (We gave 145 boxes of hard lines in Aug.)

TURNAROUND TOYS (Monroe, NC)—provides refurbished toys to impoverished children in Monroe & Union Co. (We gave 12 boxes of toys in Aug.)

TENT CITY MINISTRY (Monroe, NC)—provides for the needs of homeless people in Monroe. We give donated back packs, pots & pans, and weather-proof items.

OPERATION REACH OUT SEPTEMBER 2018

Serving the community in which she was born and raised is important to Melanie Miles, Finders Keepers’ new store manager. A graduate of Monroe High School and what-was-then Wingate College, Melanie has lived, worked, and shopped in this community all of her life. And she has been a customer of Finders Keepers for over 30 years!

Her connection to retail, though, goes way beyond being a mere shopper. “My father owned many grocery stores, and he taught me the fundamentals of retail marketing as well as math skills prior to my starting first grade,” explains Melanie. “I also have worked at other retail establishments and was the retail store representative with the #1 food brokerage in NC.”

Two weeks into the position, Melanie has already established clear goals for the store—number one is to increase revenue so that Operation Reach Out can help more people in the community. When it comes to the organization’s ability to provide for those in need, “the sky should be the limit,” she says. “No one should go hungry or go without basic essentials!”

Number two is to better serve the customers by offering better quality items and more variety, at fair prices. “We have a lot of very regular customers,” Melanie says, “and have built a good rapport with them. We want to keep them coming back...so we need to take the store to the next level and make it a better shopping experience.”

As always, Finders Keepers depends heavily on volunteer help. If you are interested, please contact Melanie at the store’s number 704-635-8992 or by going online at www.opreachout.org and submitting your name.

Meet Our New Manager

Finders Keepers Thrift Store 800 Skyway Dr, Monroe Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm Saturday 9am-4pm / Closed Sunday-Monday

Monroe Oil Company, Inc Provides us with $250 a month to help clients

with gasoline needs

All About Storage Provides us with a

FREE storage unit for our extra donations

Our Partners

Want to serve a lunch? Contact our office at opreachout1@gmail.com or 704-289-4237.

Lunch Calendar October

1 Union UMC 2 Lucy’s Lunches 3 Mineral Springs UMC 4 Buffalo Wild Wings 5 Blacks Memorial 8 Waxhaw UMC 9 Mountain Springs 10 OPEN 11 Mac’s 12 OPEN 15 Bethlehem UMC 16 First Baptist Weddington (A) 17 Prospect UMC 18 Chick fil-A 19 First Baptist Weddington (B) 22 Mt. Carmel UMC 23 OPEN 24 Roanoke Baptist 25 OPEN 26 Lakeview Baptist (B) 29 OPEN 30 OPEN 31 OPEN

Daily Bible Study/Lunch

Mon-Fri, 12:00-1:00pm

Thanks to Siler Presbyterian Church for filling in on one of our “OPEN” dates!

Thank you to the Weddington UM Men’s Group for building dividers in

our mattress shed.

Assistant Director’s Corner

Page 3 OPERAT ION REACH OUT SEPTEM BER 2018

Cara Steele Assistant Director

Thank you!

Many thanks to Ms. Jody Griffin and her pageant participants for their very generous donations! The "Blessing Bags" that were collected recently will truly be a blessing to so many homeless, less fortunate, and individuals with no fixed address in our area.

It is difficult to express just what a tube of toothpaste or a can of soup means to someone who has reached the bottom in their struggles. Just knowing that someone cares enough to give these things to them and help provide for their needs gives them so much hope. Thank you for partnering with Tent City Ministry in this way. We look forward to seeing God work and lives changed as we all come together in love to make a difference!

We have been so blessed to cross paths with many wonderful individuals and groups that have graciously given to the homeless through donations to our ministry. It is only by God's provisions through His people that the needs are being met.

If you or your group feel led to partner with us in ministry by donating, please contact us at tentcityministry1@gmail.com, or come by our office on the Operation Reach Out campus at 1308 Miller Street, Monroe. We know you will be blessed as we work together to show God's love and provide for the homeless.

"Blessed is the one who is kind to the needy." Proverbs 14:21

Can you believe fall is almost here? Oddly, these 90 degree days say otherwise!

During these sweltering days, Operation Reach Out has been busy providing relief to those in need. So so many are entering our doors looking for assistance with higher-than-normal utility bills, our clients with no fixed address seeking showers, water and refuge from the heat—whatever their need may be, we are here to serve!

September 29th, we will celebrate our 10th year of Taste Of Union, and we invite you to join us in making a difference! Your ticket purchase allows you to enjoy some of Union County’s finest foods while listening to some great music and checking out the silent auction tables!

But your ticket does so much more—each ticket allows Operation Reach Out the opportunity to continue assisting with those utility bills, providing food to those who are hungry and allowing us to minister to those who are lost.

Thank you for supporting us and I look forward to seeing you September 29th!

Thank you to Josie and to Ms. Shannon and her boys for being great examples of “giving back” to the community by supporting

Tent City Ministry and Operation Reach Out!

SERVE ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE (GALATIANS 5:13)

Thru MIDNIGHT Monday, Sept 10th, BUY ONE at $30, GET ONE for $20! • Online at www.opreachout.org • At Finders Keepers resale store (800 Skyway Dr in Monroe) • By emailing / calling tasteofunion@gmail.com / 704-289-4237

Hargett & Sons Trucking, Inc

Tri-W News First Presbyterian Church

Osborne Paper & Packaging

Union Power Cooperative Stepp Law Group

Emma Property Management Renovate It

City of Monroe Friends of Operation Reach Out

SPONSORS

Saturday, September 29th 5:30-8:00 pm

First Presbyterian Church 302 E. Windsor St., Monroe

Food! Silent Auction!

Live Entertainment featuring

BENEFITTING THE MINISTRIES OF OPERATION REACH OUT www.opreachout.org