The James II Project

This week was packed full of great meals, helping friends in need and preparing to host the Community Outreach event next Monday at First United Methodist Church in Festus!

We had great crowds at each of our meals. We served many unhoused friends this week. Saw new faces as well.

A friend we have had attending our meals in Arnold for over 2 years now has 2 jobs! He is working on becoming financially able to get his own place.

A friend in High Ridge is on his way to obtaining employment and getting back on his feet.

A friend in Festus has been offered an opening in a nearby recovery center.

We were able to help a couple stay a few more days in a hotel. They will be moving back to Illinois and staying with family to receive the support and care they need.

All of these friends and many more came in for one meal at some point in time. We are thankful to serve them and help navigate whatever comes their way.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Karin

Check out the article in the Leader this week about our High Ridge meal! Spread the word! All are welcome!

We are in full gear...food prep and some of our new friends are back this week. Enjoying the cool floor.

Here is your reminder that we now have dinner in High Ridge on Tuesdays. This meal is for anyone in our community. We are all feeling the strain from gas prices, food prices and the cost of getting by...please let us share a meal with you. Compass, Chestnut, 25:35 and other resources will be available to help.

Today was super busy in Festus! We served 54 meals! One of our friends who has a dog needed to find a vet for her, so we began reaching out to find help. I said a quick prayer and then God brought to mind a very good friend who is a huge supporter of local shelters. He said that he would take care of whatever the cost was to cover our furry friend. We found a place that will take her tomorrow. God is so good!

We helped a friend who needs his ID to get his job. He has been doing so well getting on his feet. It was great to see him and know he has not been around much because he is working and moving into a better job.

Saw many of our friends we missed last week!

Karin

URGENT NEED!

We need help finding a vet that can treat one of our friends dogs. She may have heartworm but she needs medical care. Anyone willing to help please reach out to 314-675-0375 asap.

We are a little over one week away! We will have all the resources listed and the medical van from Jefferson County Health Department will be on site!

We ended the week serving 73 meals at The Salvation Army today!

We connected one of our regular friends with The Salvation Army for assistance with a few things and gave him information on a resource to find an apartment.

Our friend from High Ridge had his truck towed to Fairway and we anticipate the repairs being done tomorrow and then we will help him find a job. He has his Commercial Driver License so we are anticipating finding a job driving a dump truck or something similar.

We served many new friends today.

Have a great weekend!!!

Karin

We started our meal in High Ridge last night. We had a great group of volunteers, Tara Lang with Chestnut Health was with us, Compass crisis team was represented, 25:35 was there and we had several unhoused friends join us for our meal.

We met a friend who lives in his vehicle in High Ridge. He needs repairs so he can begin working. Without transportation it is difficult to find work. We reached out to our friends at Fairway Automotive in Arnold, Mike Gonzalez at Concord Towing and St. Vincent DePaul. Together we have a plan to have our friends car towed to Fairway, have the inspections to see what needs to be done and then work together within our partners to repair his vehicle. He and his sweet pups will be staying at a local hotel while this takes place. One meal can truly change a life.

We met a mother and her son that are without housing. Her son has an interview at Aldi and needed clothing. 25:35 was there to assist him with many new outfits so he feels better prepared to interview and hopefully get that job!

We had several community members that are part of County Council, City Council or running for office join us. When I visited County Council last month I invited the council members to join us in their respective locations so they could see the community members we are assisting each week. So thankful they came and asked questions. We all need to work together to help all of the people in our communities.

Partnering together is what we do!

Karin

We are steadily preparing our meal for our friends in High Ridge! See you soon!