The Recovery Rental Assistance program at Joy Reigns provides short-term rental assistance grants to people residing in substance abuse recovery houses. When people first transition to a recovery house, they often do not have a job, transportation, and have exhausted their support network’s resources. In order to be accepted into a recovery house, people are often expected to pay initial fees/deposit as well as up-front front rent of one to two weeks, often about $400. Once a person moves in, rent averages $150/week.
Joy Reigns offers up to two weeks of rental assistance in the form of a grant. In order to receive a grant, recipients are asked to volunteer at the thrift shop for three shifts. This arrangement fosters healthy community relationships between thrift shop volunteers and grant recipients and serves as an opportunity for recipients to rebuild their work history. The biggest obstacle to the success of our program is a lack of transportation. Many of our inquiries come from people living in Pasadena and Glen Burnie who do not have access to private transportation. Unfortunately, to take public transportation from these areas, assuming one lives near a bus stop, it often takes approximately 3 hours to get to Edgewater. We have been fortunate to have a few volunteer drivers to assist with transportation but we do not have nearly enough.
Since it
s inception, we have given about $7000 in rental assistance this year. Knowledge of our program is through word of mouth only. Our goal is to have a more steady and significant budget, in addition to increasing our depth of drivers. With a firm budget and committed team of drivers, we will be able to reach out to more recovery houses, expanding our program to help even more people access and remain in recovery houses.
If you would like more information about how you can help, such as providing a donation, volunteering alongside a grant recipient, or serving as volunteer driver, contact Kelly Purnell at
kellypurnell4@gmail.com.
ROAR! Life is Wild: God is Good Vacation Bible School is Aug 19th – 23rd
An epic Vacation Bible School African adventure engages the whole herd. At Roar, kids will explore God’s goodness and celebrate a ferocious faith that powers them through this “wild life”. Half and full day options available. Registration is open! Click
here to register.
This year we are excited to announce a faith and art series for Lent. Come and see some of your favorite stories come alive. Explore the symbolism beyond the biblical story that can add deep meaning to paintings and other works of art. Grow in your faith each week as we focus on a different biblical story and work of art. The final week we will create one large community art piece (no talent needed). The series will begin on Wednesday, March 6th at 7 pm and then continue on Tuesday starting March 12th at 6:30 pm through Easter Sunday. Tuesday midweek will offer family friendly meals available beginning at 6 pm with vegetarian and gluten-free option available.
Due to inclement weather, worship has been cancelled. Please join Pastor Sara on the Joy Reigns Lutheran Church Facebook page at 9:30 am ET for a LIVE Snow Worship Experience.
You’ll need a cup of water and a Bible if you have one.
Today’s reading is Luke 3: 15-17, 21-22
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
Looking forward to being together, even if it is not in person.
God’s Peace,
PSY
s inception, we have given about $7000 in rental assistance this year. Knowledge of our program is through word of mouth only. Our goal is to have a more steady and significant budget, in addition to increasing our depth of drivers. With a firm budget and committed team of drivers, we will be able to reach out to more recovery houses, expanding our program to help even more people access and remain in recovery houses.
