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When the needy come into Heart House finding the resources to help them can be daunting. Instilling hope and faith into these people that things can and will get better can be even more difficult.
That is why Trixie Jones, executive director of Heart House and Heartline, said she leans on Romans 12:8, which says: “If it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
Jones said while the needy in Woodford County are growing in number she finds that the majority, when they find out others care, still believe in The American Dream and revive their faith that their lives will get better.
Plan B
Jones said it can take a while to make the case that faith and hope are still present in her client’s lives.
“They have it deep down,” Jones said.
“But, there’s always that nagging question in the back of their minds: Can I break all the chains holding me down? I’m homeless. I have no job, no car, no money.”
Jones said part of the struggle is to get the homeless and destitute to have some self-esteem again.
“When you’ve been knocked down 100 times it can be hard to get up the 101st time,” Jones said.
“Even if they have hope you have to instill in them the faith to believe in you. They have been let down many times.” To build that faith my staff and I always have a Plan B in place just in case a door slams shut. We need to assure them there are other doors and windows to go through.”
Stability
Jones said that is where she, her staff and all those other faceless people who support her clients come into play.
“These folks need a stable person in their lives. I and my staff are cheerleaders for them,” Jones said.
On occasion, Jones said, she runs across a person who has given up.
The majority, she said, however, still have some faith in themselves and others.
“We can’t save the world,” Jones said, “but we can help in this corner of it. These people need a renewing of their spirit, to realize there is always hope. ”
Churches, Jones said, in the Eureka area have stepped up in support of this effort.
When the needy come into Heart House finding the resources to help them can be daunting. Instilling hope and faith into these people that things can and will get better can be even more difficult.
That is why Trixie Jones, executive director of Heart House and Heartline, said she leans on Romans 12:8, which says: “If it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
Jones said while the needy in Woodford County are growing in number she finds that the majority, when they find out others care, still believe in The American Dream and revive their faith that their lives will get better.
Plan B
Jones said it can take a while to make the case that faith and hope are still present in her client’s lives.
“They have it deep down,” Jones said.
“But, there’s always that nagging question in the back of their minds: Can I break all the chains holding me down? I’m homeless. I have no job, no car, no money.”
Jones said part of the struggle is to get the homeless and destitute to have some self-esteem again.
“When you’ve been knocked down 100 times it can be hard to get up the 101st time,” Jones said.
“Even if they have hope you have to instill in them the faith to believe in you. They have been let down many times.” To build that faith my staff and I always have a Plan B in place just in case a door slams shut. We need to assure them there are other doors and windows to go through.”
Stability
Jones said that is where she, her staff and all those other faceless people who support her clients come into play.
“These folks need a stable person in their lives. I and my staff are cheerleaders for them,” Jones said.
On occasion, Jones said, she runs across a person who has given up.
The majority, she said, however, still have some faith in themselves and others.
“We can’t save the world,” Jones said, “but we can help in this corner of it. These people need a renewing of their spirit, to realize there is always hope. ”
Churches, Jones said, in the Eureka area have stepped up in support of this effort.
“Recently a person donated a car to one of our clients. A church in Washington donated a car to a client,” she said.
“That sends a powerful message that there is hope. There are wonderful people out there. People are generous to us 12 months a year.”
Ron Martz, pastor at Eureka United Methodist Church, said the work being done at Heart House is phenomenal.
He said the churches in the community do what they can to help their mission.
On Dec. 29 a Community Feast will be held at the church, sponsored by several Eureka churches.
“In Eureka a lot of our children are in the free or reduced lunch program,” Martz said.
“That’s fine when they are in school. On a long break like the one at Christmas we need to make sure they are getting the proper food.”
Martz said hope is about as an important commodity as the church can provide.
“We talk to those who come to us for help about hope. We try to get across that no matter what situation we may find ourselves in there is always hope in Christ, Jesus,” he said.
“We try to look beyond just the immediate needs. We try to help with the long-term situation, to get them out of isolation. We know that just getting out in the community and relating to others helps a great deal.”
