LOCAL HUNGER MINISTIRES
Jackson House
Located in the center of Hot Springs, Jackson House is an interfaith community crisis center which provides short-term emergency assistance for basic needs – food, clothing, shelter and medicine, without regard to race, creed, gender or nationality. The first Wednesday of each month a group of men from Holy Trinity prepares and serves lunch for the individuals who have no other place to go. A budgeted contribution is made by Holy Trinity each year to support this effort to serve those in need in the community of Hot Springs.
Emergency Food Delivery
The St. Francis Chapter of the Order of the Daughters of the King at Holy Trinity delivers food to families in need on a one-time basis. Food items include the emergency food boxes prepared and furnished by Project Hope Food Bank. These items are supplemented by perishable items such as bread, meat, dairy, fruit and vegetables purchased from a local grocery store.
Meals on Wheels
During May of each year, volunteers from Holy Trinity deliver Meals on Wheels to Village shut-ins. Volunteers give one morning each week during
May. Meals are prepared by and picked up at St. Vincent’s McAuley Center.
Project Hope Food Bank
Holy Trinity supports the mission of Project HOPE Food Bank with large donations annually from the Outreach budget and volunteer labor since the food bank started in 2009. About 17 Holy Trinity parishioners work at the food bank at least one day a week. The food bank exists to provide affordable and healthy food to food pantries and feeding programs in West Central Arkansas. Currently, Project Hope provides food in case-lot quantities to 4 food pantries and 15 feeding programs. In addition, emergency food boxes, senior emergency food boxes, and food for backpack programs are provided to 45 social service agencies. As one of the social service agencies, Holy Trinity disperses emergency food boxes and gift boxes.
Love Lunches
Holy Trinity participates in this ministry, headed by Christ of the Hills Methodist Church, HSV, to feed the hungry in Hot Springs on Sundays. Six Hot Springs Village and two Hot Springs churches participate in this ministry. Holy Trinity serves on the first Sunday of every other month beginning in January. We prepare and serve a sack lunch for approximately 30-65 individuals, from the Salvation Army kitchen.
There are limited free sources for food on Sundays in Hot Springs for the homeless so these lunches are always so appreciated by the recipients and bring each of us great joy. In January and March, some of us will bring items of clothing like sweaters, jackets, hats and socks (gently used or new), to hand out. These items always disappear quickly. Come join us and serve the less fortunate. Loving thy neighbor is so rewarding!
OTHER LOCAL MINISTRIES
Dick Johnston Children's Camp
This camp is for 8-12 year old children who have a parent who has been incarcerated. Serving the community for over 15 years, it is a week long, non-denominational camp that is held each summer at Camp Michell on Petit Jean Mountain. The camp is totally funded by donations and is free to campers.
Village Churches Mission
Village Churches Mission (VCM) is a cooperative effort of the churches in Hot Springs Village. This ministry was organized nearly 40 years ago when it became apparent that many of the working poor families in the community had emergency needs surpassing their income. Funds are raised to assist families, on a one-time basis, who are experiencing short-duration distress. Holy Trinity makes an annual contribution from the Outreach budget to VCM. The holiday food boxes that are delivered at Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are also a part of the VCM. In addition, the non-budgeted shoe fund provides monies to the VCM-sponsored ministry that supplies shoes to children in need in the Jessieville, Fountain Lake, and Mountain Pine school districts.
Habitat for Humanity
Holy Trinity supports the Apostles Build program of the Garland County Habitat for Humanity with funds from the Outreach budget and with volunteer workers. Habitat has a vision of “a world where everyone has a decent place to live.” The mission is “Seeking to put God’s love into action. Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope."
Charitable Christian Medical Clinic (CCMC)
CCMC is a nonprofit Christian ministry that strives to improve the quality of life for medically uninsured people in the Hot Springs community. The CCMC provides affordable general medical care, preventive medicine and health education, and makes available spiritual counseling for those who seek it. Holy Trinity’s Outreach budget makes an annual donation to CCMC.
STATE AND WORLD MINISTRIES
Operation Christmas Child
Camp Mitchell
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good news of Jesus Christ. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 135 million gift-filled shoe boxes to children in more than 150 countries and territories. For many of these children, the gift-filled shoe box is the first gift they have ever received. Holy Trinity has been a part of this ministry since 2010, collecting filled shoe boxes in November of each year.
Camp Mitchell is a nonprofit camp and conference center owned and operated by the Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas. Each year, Camp Mitchell hosts a vital summer youth camp program which includes nine weeks of camp with two weeks open to handicapped and disadvantaged youth and adults (Robert L. Brown Camp) and one week open to children with parents in prison (Dick Johnston Children’s Camp). Camp Mitchell operates year-round with lodging and facilities available for retreats meetings, banquets, weddings, reunions or peaceful family getaways.
Kairos Prison Ministry
The mission of the Kairos prison ministry is to bring Christ’s love and forgiveness to all incarcerated individuals, their families and those who work with them, and to assist in the transition of becoming productive citizens. Kairos is active in six Arkansas prisons (four prisons for men and one each for women and youth). Volunteers from Holy Trinity serve at the Tucker prison, which is located near England, AR.