Press Release: A Miracle in the Works
Mansfield Community Rallies to: HELP SAVE OUR FOOD BANK!
Harvesting International Ministry Center (HIM Center) is large food bank and food pantry that has served the Mansfield area for the last dozen years -- since 1999. Even a decade prior to that, its current president Gregory Dewbrew was serving the hungry in Mansfield, beginning way back in 1989 at Living Word Outreach. So for two decades now Dewbrew and the HIM Center have been meeting the needs of the less fortunate in our town.
Harvesting International Ministry Center (HIM Center) is large food bank and food pantry that has served the Mansfield area for the last dozen years -- since 1999. Even a decade prior to that, its current president Gregory Dewbrew was serving the hungry in Mansfield, beginning way back in 1989 at Living Word Outreach. So for two decades now Dewbrew and the HIM Center have been meeting the needs of the less fortunate in our town.
In fact, their impact is felt way beyond the borders of Mansfield. The HIM Center is also a major distributor of food to the hungry throughout North Texas. They not only give free food directly to hundreds of individuals each month in Mansfield (that’s what a food pantry does), but they also sell food for pennies on the pound to other food pantries and ministries throughout the region who in turn distribute it to the needy (that’s what a food bank does).
Each year they distribute between 3 and 5 million pounds of food. Thanks to Dewbrew and the HIM Center, literally millions upon millions of pounds of food have been collected and distributed to Mansfield families in need over the past decade. So without their presence in our town, thousands of families in our area would go hungry.
When you give food to people it ministers to more than their stomachs! Just ask one of Him Center’s volunteers named Joann. She is always excited to share how 15 years ago her family was out of work and on the verge of disaster. Dewbrew found her walking on the side of the road, gave their family food, and helped get them back on their feet. Since then she has volunteered regularly at HIM Center, and she just beams as she shares how Gregory and the ministry has continued to inspire and encourage her all these years. – And that is just one of countless stories of Mansfield families who have been rescued because of our food bank.
Now, without your help, their presence in our community could be lost. The HIM Center lost its lease last July, and that is huge deal. When you give away nearly two-thirds of your product and sell the rest at only pennies on the pound, there is no way to afford the cost of large commercial warehouse space. This food bank has been able to continue all these years because of the generosity of their current landlord, Richard Geist of Kent Associates.
For the past dozen years, Geist graciously allowed the food bank to operate out his warehouse at 560 Easy Drive. For many of those years, he charged them no rent at all. In more recent years, he has asked only for a very modest sum. However, Kent Associates has grown and Geist is in need of his warehouse back.
This truly has become a local crisis. The food bank will shut down if it does not have adequate warehouse space from which to operate. This is a crisis that could affect our entire region as more and more people are seeking the assistance of food banks in these tough economic times. And this is the exact time our community needs to rally around and support the less fortunate. It is the responsibility of our business community to keep the community healthy, and as individuals we all know that the next person in need of food could be our brother or our sister… or even ourselves with just one layoff.
Thankfully a miracle is in the works and you can be a part of it!! The Mansfield community is rallying together to help SAVE OUR FOOD BANK!! It started when two angels-with-skin-on pledged to raise two hundred thousand dollars if Mansfield Cares, another local charity, would raise the remaining money needed to build a suitable facility for the HIM Center on its property at the corner of Broad Street and 6th Avenue. And Mansfield Cares has risen to the challenge! But they need your help!
Mansfield Cares is an amazing charity that was created by a widely diverse group of caring citizens for the purpose of providing help to the economically challenged citizens of Mansfield. Their goal is to be the “safety net” of Mansfield; so they work with various local charities by providing money to meet needs that they cannot. Not only do they raise funds for a variety of local causes, but they have provided the community with a free medical clinic at the Linda Nix Family Caring Place. This Mansfield Cares clinic is already located on the same property as the proposed warehouse for HIM Center’s food bank.
Richard Geist, in his continued generosity, has given the HIM Center an extension to stay until the end of October pending the construction of the facility by Mansfield Cares.
Time is of the essence. October is fast approaching and construction needs to begin. Mansfield Cares has already obtained building plans and permits… they are just in need of further funding. The $200,000 pledge will meet about half the cost of the cost of the facility… but they are in need of approximately another $200,000.
Please help SAVE OUR FOOD BANK!! The Mansfield community is rallying together!! Every single small donation adds up. So please don’t hesitate to give whatever you can. And of course there is a great need for a few more angels-with-skin-on to come to the rescue!!
Donations can be sent to Mansfield Cares, 990 Hwy. 287, #106-185, Mansfield , TX 76063. You can also give online at ManfieldCares.Org. Be sure to mark your donation with “Save Our Food Bank.”
For more information on Harvesting International Ministry (HIM) Center:
Website: www.himcenter.org
Email: info@himcenter.org
Food Bank Phone: 817-453-3663
Website: www.himcenter.org
Email: info@himcenter.org
Food Bank Phone: 817-453-3663
For more information on Mansfield Cares:
Website: www.mansfieldcares.org
Contact Person: Lance Walker
(817) 832-8307
lwalker@woodhavenbank.com
Website: www.mansfieldcares.org
Contact Person: Lance Walker
(817) 832-8307
lwalker@woodhavenbank.com
By Susan Dewbrew
Sample news stories about crisis (May 2011):
Channel 8 News video (5-3-11):
Channel 11 News video:
Cleburne Times newspaper article:
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