Meg Newell, director of public relations and marketing for South Side Mission, said after 81 years, the organization has discovered what’s wrong with the people they serve: they’re poor. “This may seem like an oversimplification, but it’s actually good news. They’re poor in love, poor in money, poor in hope, poor in support, poor in faith, or poor in education. All of these poverties are curable. With help from volunteers and support from the community, we love, feed, house, clothe, and teach all of these people. Not because it’s our mission statement, but because it’s our mission.”
She said Peoria’s oldest rescue mission was founded in 1925 by Helen Haien. “Originally, the Mission’s purpose was to help the poor children of the south side of Peoria. It has since expanded to include the women and families of our community. We’re a Christ-centered organization that believes that to earn the right to share the life-changing and life-saving message of salvation, we must first address the physical needs of our clients.”
In addressing those needs, Newell said the organization has developed a host of ministries:
• New Promise Center. “Housing up to 85 homeless women and homeless women with children each night, we offer a one-year program that will help move the ladies from dependence to independence through drug and alcohol treatment, mental health stabilization, literacy and GED programs, life skills classes, employment assistance, and continuing education. Our residents return to the community with better circumstances and life skills.”
• King’s Kids. “Our dedicated and certified teachers offer first-rate daycare, preschool, and kindergarten to the community at reduced fees or for free. This enables many of our families who can’t afford childcare to work. We have 50-plus kids in our free/reduced fees daycare-preschool.”
• Break Out Youth Center. “Offering free after school clubs, tutoring, and college entrance assistance. We’re also very proud of our children’s choir, which has performed at many area venues and churches. In the summer, a top-notch day camp is available at affordable rates to the community. During the school year, we serve about 200 kids a week.”
• Mission Mart. “Our retail store offers gently used clothing and household goods at affordable prices. Located at 3033 North Sterling, all proceeds support the South Side Mission.”
• Benevolence Center. “The South Side Mission’s benevolence ministry offers free food, clothing, and household goods to the poor of our communities. Approximately 900 people are fed each month through our food pantry and another 300 benefit from clothing or appliances.”
• Camp Kearney. “Located just North of Canton, this 155-acre retreat offers the camping experience to area children without regard to income. This camp is offered for free on a first come, first served basis. During the camping season, we house and feed about 80 kids a week.”
• Lighthouse Diner. “Feeding our visitors’ bodies and souls and filling a long-standing need in our community, the South Side Mission offers a free, hot, nutritious noon meal to the poor of our community. After receiving the message of salvation, our guests enjoy the fellowship and hospitality of the Mission and fellow diners. It’s currently offered on Thursdays.”
• Handicapped Sunday School. “Each Sunday afternoon, our volunteers preach the gospel message of hope to a wonderful group of disabled adults. After a time of inspiration, we have the opportunity to share a meal with all of these folks and enjoy their fellowship. It serves 40 to 60 profoundly mentally challenged individuals each week.”
• Holiday Meals. “Each Christmas and Thanksgiving, we prepare, serve, and deliver well over 2,000 meals to the elderly, poor, and shut-in of our community. Staffed almost exclusively by volunteers, we enjoy the privilege of ministering to these folks at a time when it’s especially meaningful to be remembered.”
She said South Side Mission stands out in the non-profit crowd not only due to the excellence of its ministries, but the sheer volume and scope of them as well. “Also, we receive no funding from state or federal sources, no United Way support, and no government monies at all. We’re completely supported by individuals, corporations, and church donations.”
But like other charitable organizations, Newell said its diverse volunteers are the lifeblood of the Mission. “The programs we offer couldn’t exist without them. The people who volunteer here are as varied as could be; we’re thrilled to welcome the most successful and prosperous of Peoria, as well as people who may partake of our programs on another day. At the South Side Mission, we’re blessed to see people at their best almost every day—from the volunteers to the less fortunate, everyone who comes is happy to be a part of the solution.”
Every program offered has a place for volunteer help, she said. “From tutoring the kids in our youth program to teaching parenting classes, our volunteers are amazing. Bradley University blesses us with nurses who see our ladies each week. The Cook family has hosted our Handicapped Sunday School by preaching and feeding our guests every week for 20 years.”
Some volunteers help with technology that allows the Mission to spread the word about its services. Other volunteers lend manual labor. “During our Adopt-A-Block program, we met a lady who was in need of a wheelchair ramp. The volunteer from Northwoods Community Church who visited with her discovered the need, got the materials from his church, and built a wheelchair ramp for her. This woman now has accessibility and the freedom to come and go from her home because a volunteer cared enough to make a difference.”
Of all of the services it provides, Newell said the biggest need it meets is housing. “Imagine how it would feel to have small children and no safe place to sleep or assurance of where your next meal is coming from. The New Promise Center offers shelter and healing for women and women with children. The kids can go to public school or to our daycare facility while mom addresses the necessary steps to break the cycle.”
She said the biggest misconception about the South Side Mission involves its clients. “The people we help here are poor—not drug addicted, not dirty, not lazy, not unwilling to help themselves. If you want to know what the typical South Side Mission shelter resident looks like, I would say, ‘Go look in the mirror.’ Our ladies look like you and me. They’re young and old; some have educations, and some don’t. Some do have drug problems, but it’s shocking how many don’t. They cross every ethnic group. They’re women who’ve made some poor choices, and they’re women who’ve had poor choices made for them. They’re us, and they’re in need.”
One South Side Mission caseworker, Amy Dooley, puts this concept into perspective. “We’re all one crisis away from needing a social worker,” she said. “A sick child, a job loss, a divorce—all of these things are devastating, but if you’re already very close to poverty, then you could easily be the next resident of the South Side Mission.”
To combat this possibility, Newell said a positive support system, a realistic sense of priorities, and a willingness to use resources available to all of us will help reduce the chances of needing a homeless shelter. “By maintaining a positive support system, you’ll have people around you who can ‘see around the corners’ so you can avoid some big mistakes. A realistic sense of priorities will keep you accountable to what really matters. A willingness to seek help sooner rather than later may prove to be invaluable in terms of avoiding eviction, hunger, and many of the things that cause a downward spiral.”
Seeing the effect of the Mission’s work is the best part of her job, Newell said, though it’s also the most difficult. “The most challenging aspect for me has been when the residents leave. I know it’s the plan from their first step into the Mission, but after seeing our ladies grow, mature, get educational help, and find jobs, it’s bittersweet when they leave. But it’s a wonderful experience when they come back to visit—complete in a new life that’s healthy for them.” TPW