Monthly Challenge

Today, I’m pleased to introduce you to Ed Callahan, the Lead Pastor of Eagle Point Community Church in Imperial, MO, who graciously took time to answer all of my questions about the Community Assistance Program at EPCC. Ben and I have been a part of Eagle Point Community Church for a couple of years now and we really love the church’s passion for providing for people’s practical needs. The Community Assistance Program provides food, money for utilities and rent, furnishings, and much, much more. In addition, Eagle Point works to build and maintain a relationship with those who are in need, checking in and visiting with them frequently.

Can you tell us about the Community Assistance Program at Eagle Point Community
Church?

The Eagle Point Community Church community assistance concept was something that we were convinced had to be part of EP from the very beginning. The vision is based on James 1:27,
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans
and widows in their distress…” Eagle Point has been assisting people from all over Northern
Jefferson County since March of 2005. Community Assistance began the same time
Eagle Point began.

Helping people is something that our family has done for years, and will continue
to do as long as God gives us breath. Now, we are able to join our efforts as a family
with Eagle Point, which allows our efforts to be multiplied. Our involvement was from
the beginning with development of the community assistance concept, and
implementation.

How many people has the Community Assistance Program been able to help?

Lots. There is very seldom a week that goes by that a family or individual does
not make contact with our Community Assistance Team asking for help. Many weeks,
we receive more than one request. Multiply that times five and a half years, it’s been a
lot of people.

There are a lot of food pantries and other community assistance programs out there. What makes Eagle Point’s program unique?

The Community Assistance Program is unique in that we do not give hand outs. We give
hand ups. In order for someone to receive assistance, they are required to go through an
application and verification process that includes a face to face meeting. Our goal is to
build a relationship with those being assisted that lasts way beyond the assistance. Our
team calls, visits, and follows up on each individual or family that we assist.

Our purpose in building a relationship with those who receive assistance is so that
hope can be restored, trust can be built, and life-change can take place. Through this new
relationship, we ultimately desire to see each person assisted learn of God’s plan for their
life, and step into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Can you tell us about some of the people who have been helped?

Yes. A mom with two small children had to move out of their current residence
because of fear. She moved in to a small apartment without disclosing her new address
to the husband. EPCC Community Assistance helped with monthly rent until she was
able to get back on her feet, and find employment.

A man out of work who was hurt by the housing market crash was helped with his
mortgage, and financial planning. His family is now back on their feet and active in
helping others by working with the EPCC Community Assistance Team.

A family where the dad was diagnosed with a disease that caused him to loose his
job. The Apple Tree Foundation helped with bills and financial planning for months
until he was able to receive disability. Now, this family is part of helping others through
EPCC Community Assistance.

There is really a limitless amount of people over the last five and a half years
whose stories could be shared as to how EPCC Community Assistance helped them back
onto their feet, and in many cases, introduced them to life how God intended it to be.

What are the most common needs and how can we help?

The most common needs are food items, financial assistance, and job placement.
We receive pallets, cases of food each month, and within a couple days the food is
organized and distributed back out into our communities into the lives of people in need.
Financial assistance is always one of the top needs. Assistance with an electric
bill so that the electric is not shut off, assistance with rent, mortgage and medical are also
common needs. Many are assisted with current job information so that employment can
be gained.

Funding for Eagle Point Community Assistance comes from two places. First,
Eagle Point Community Church’s general budget. Second, from the Apple Tree Foundation.
The best way to help is to become one of our Apple Tree Foundation $2 Monthly Donors. For just
$2 per month, you can directly help someone in need who has been through our
application/verification process. And you can be assured that those assisted are being
followed up with in order that a relationship is developed for long-term life-change.

Thanks so much to Ed for taking the time to tell us about the Community Assistance Program at Eagle Point. You can learn more about what Eagle Point is doing through their Apple Tree Foundation page on Facebook. I’ll be posting the November Monthly Challenge here shortly so stay tuned!

I spoke to my contact at Lydia’s House and she said that the three items they most need are: Toilet paper, dish soap, and laundry detergent. They also need household goods such as: cleaning supplies, pots and pans, dishes, etc. They do not accept furniture.

I’m collecting until the end of the month so please let me know if you have items for me to pick up!

Thanks again to Karen over at cuttingupcoupons.com! If you haven’t had a chance to hop over to her website yet, jump over there and start saving money! I’ve been incorporating Karen’s methods and following her site for about a month now and am happy to report that I’m saving money every time I go shopping! Just last night I saved $30 at Shop ‘n Save alone. It is so satisfying to have a cashier tell you your total is $44, hand her your coupons, and watch that total come down to $14! That is something to get excited about!

In addition, Karen has really prompted me to begin a stock pile of food and toiletries for my family. This has already benefited us in a couple of ways. First off, when we decided to take a very last minute trip to Chicago last Friday, I was able to grab all of the snacks we needed. No stopping to go to the store for us! Also, since I’d started shopping one size ahead for my son, I was able to pull out some new jeans for him when we discovered he’d outgrown all his other pants in about a month’s time! Also, since I’m looking at having a year’s worth of goods for my family, I’ve really been paying attention to how much we spend on everything on a yearly basis. This has caused me to look for some things in bulk, to cut back/out certain things, and to be more creative overall. I’m paying much more attention to how much I can save with my Costco membership (and which things aren’t really such a great deal there). Combined, all of this is saving my family money, is making us healthier, and is helping to prepare us in case of an emergency.

On that note, here’s my stockpile shelf in the basement. It’s not staggering, but this is after only 3-4 weeks!

Savin' Money

On top of all of this, I’ve been very pleased with how much I’m able to give away. In addition to my regular donations, I’ve been able to find some deals that were so awesome I scooped them up solely for the purpose of donating! What a blessing to be able to increase my giving without breaking the bank!