Dear editor:
During the weekend of events designated to mark the celebration of the birthday for Rev. Dr. Martin L. King, Jr., our local nonprofit organization Another Chance Outreach Ministries, Inc. (ACOM) provided hope, personal hygiene packets, tangible resources, medical screening, lunch and haircuts.
The Haircuts4theHOMELESS / MLK 2019 event was held Jan. 19 at the Inner City Night Shelter in Savannah. This event was the brainchild of ACOM’s Executive Sec’y, Rafeinix DeOleo and her husband Jean, who is a local independent barber. Assisting him was Willie Knight, who had just gotten off work at 6 a.m. and drove up to the shelter to help. ACOM served fried turkey dinners to this homeless community on Thanksgiving Day 2018, in partnership with Never Counted Out, Inc. Robert Wooden, Jr., ACOM’s Treasurer / Veteran Liaison returned Christmas Day to hand out brand new blankets. These blankets were donated to ACOM by the Missionary Circle of the Full Gospel Tabernacle COGIC of Hinesville.
Several volunteer groups, such as Mary A. Streeter, Nurse Practitioner and Quad E Corp provided blood pressure screening and health and wellness instructions. The AmeriCorps volunteers assisted with serving the spaghetti luncheon and set up the clothing giveaway station. Maggie Buckner and Never Counted Out, Inc. along with the ACOM board members provided assistance wherever there was a need.
The Haircuts4theHOMELESS / MLK 2019 event fulfilled its intended mission to empower individuals, strengthen the homeless community, bridge barriers, create solutions to social problems and moved everyone who participated closer to Dr. King’s vision of a “Beloved Community.” ACOM believes in providing an unselfish service to others which breaks down barriers by bringing people from different experiences together. The Haircuts4theHOMELESS / MLK 2019 event united both volunteers and the recipients of our service, which in turn builds a stronger community. As ACOM expanded its area of service, they did so with the goal of transforming lives from the inside out, one person at a time.
Irving White and
Sheldon Arrindell
Hinesville