Mobile Unit

In Dec. of 2007 a gentleman from Johnson County brought to our attention the need for our services in Johnson County. He shared with us his desire and commitment to make this happen. A few weeks later we made a point to visit Johnson County to see what services the county already has and how our program would fit into their town. We found a home for battered women, one thrift store, an after school program for youth, and a daycare that the school provides for students that have a child while in high school. We felt very welcome from everyone that we met and they shared with us what they felt the needs there were. We did learn that there isn’t an OB doctor in Mt. City and the hospital doesn’t deliver babies. Most women come to Eliz. to receive ob care. There is a huge concern for the youth and everyone we spoke with welcomed any programs we would provide. On the way back from Mt. City Lynn Barnett and I discussed how there wasn’t many office building available and due to overhead it would be great if we had a mobile unit that we could service their area with on a weekly basis. The next morning I received a phone call from OJ Gardner whom I hadn’t heard from since Aug. of last year. He said he was praying and God laid our ministry on his heart and asked what we were into. I began to share with him our findings at Johnson County and our possible need for a mobile unit. He paused and said he had something that might work and said he would be over that afternoon. He showed up with a more than perfect RV that looks the part for a mobile unit. He asked if it would work and I said yes indeed. He then said the RV was ours and had his workers tune it up for us. We converted the inside to look more like a counseling area and put our lettering on the sides. A community meeting was planned for March 6th, at 6:30 located at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Ads ran in the Tomahawk Newspaper about the meeting and members of the community were encouraged to attend and share their thoughts on the need in the county and also hear a presentation about AA&WC. Around 40 people were in attendance at the meeting. Doug Hornsby provided dinner for everyone in attendance. We presented the projected budget and explained what we thought might work. A check for $10,000 was presented to us towards the $28,000 budget. Our first day of services started on Monday March 10th from 10:00am-4:00pm with the mobile unit in the parking lot of H&R Block on Shady St. We had two clients by the end of the day and many members of the community came to visit. We will be going back every Monday with the mobile unit and any Johnson County clients are welcome at our Eliz. Center for items or services they may need. We are looking for an office space that we could put a Mommy Mart in so clients will to how to travel to Eliz. for help. I know God has met and supplied every need for that we have encountered in this project I have no doubt He wants this to happen so He will supply this need too. We are planning a volunteer training On March 24th at 6:00 at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. If you would like to attend please call us at 543-4673 to sign-up.

The mobile unit is available as needed throughout many communities.