One of Fort Wayne's employers moved out in the early 1980's, and the Davis' source of income ended.
Loosing Jim's job while Kathy fought cancer in multiple areas of her body was more than a concern.
Not eligible to receive from different government programs due to existing liquid assets, the couple
sold anything they could to make ends meet until Jim found a new position. Through their journey,
they soon met and began inviting others in similar situations into their home. This was the birth of
New Creations (NC).
Within two years the program exploded and focused on meeting the needs of those who made too little
to make ends meet, but too much to qualify for government programs.
Now almost twenty years has passed. More than 300 families are being assisted with basic needs
every month! Residents of Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio are recipients of NC and its network of more
than forty organizations. Many participants find out about NC through word of mouth, local agencies,
and the school system.
NC volunteers take individual families under their wing and provide assistance
in the forms of food and clothing, as well as parenting and budget classes for sometimes up to two years!
"It takes two to three years to get persons to be at a place of self-dependency," Kathy comments. "They
need a hand up and not a hand out." When many food pantries give nonperishable items to those in need,
NC is also able to give excellent meat and dairy products. It's typical to for a volunteer to send a family
of four home with three hundred pounds of food which lasts two weeks!
In addition to providing individual and family assistance, NC distributes donated products to various
food pantries, orphanages, soup kitchens. OBI's Hunger Strike Force has provided biweekly loads of food
for more than six months. "New Creations and Kathy are awesome to work with!" relays OBI's Dennis Lee.
Kathy expresses, "Receiving food from OBI has given us a greater capacity to share with families who have many different needs."
Kathy remembers her late husband as she leads a team of four staff and thirty-eight volunteers in
doing everything from helping individuals pick out clothing for their families to the sorting and packing
of groceries. "I'm 60 years old with 160 years of experience!" comments this grandmother of two. "God
told us to feed those in need. We have the only soul saving message."
In just the past six months, OBI's Hunger Strike Force tractor-trailers have delivered 31.9 million
pounds of food and relief supplies to its' partnering organizations, like New Creations, all across the country!
OBI can continue to help those in need with your generous gift today...
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Every day, the fleet of Hunger Strike Force trucks are on the road, delivering nutritious food and essential supplies to thousands facing hunger and poverty. With your help, we can continue to impact lives and give hope to those who need it most. Consider making an online donation today.
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