GAP Ministries

GAP Ministries will be closed Thursday, January 23, 2025 due to the road conditions. We look forward to seeing everyone back on Thursday, January 30, 2025.

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GAP Ministries serves area homeless - Augusta Good News Founded in 1979, GAP Ministries serves the homeless and those in need.

Hello friends,

March was a busy month. We continue to see more people in need. This year there were 5 Thursdays in March.

Our nurses helped 260 people with prescriptions they could not afford and over the counter medicines. We are so blessed to have 7 nurse volunteers to cover this need. This keeps us from being short when 1 or 2 need to be off on a given Thursday. Our nurses spend much of their time speaking with pharmacists trying to find programs our clients can use for discounted medication without relying on us. The challenge is great for many of our clients.

Our birth certificate volunteers saw 160 people needing identification. They got back 69 birth certificates, gave out 52, and sent off 56 new applications. This is such a valuable service to people trying to live a more independent life. Once you have your birth certificate, you can get your photo ID and gain employment or more secure shelter. Our photo ID volunteers transported 38 people to the DDS for a photo ID. 32 of those people now have a photo ID. These volunteers often make 2-3 trips in one day depending on the need each week.

Our diaper bank volunteers distributed 362 packages of a week's worth of diapers to families who are unable to stretch their budgets to cover disposable diapers. This included 2 week's worth of diapers on March 30 to cover the fact that we will be closed on the Thursday of Master's week. This service also helps mothers staying at Hope House who are struggling with addictions. They receive treatment and life skills training during their stay at Hope House.

Our food pantry continues to be challenged by the increase in need vs the limited inventory and higher costs of product at Golden Harvest. Our pantry volunteers helped 941 households experiencing food insecurity in March. This includes 401 walking bags of sandwiches and snacks for those with nowhere to cook. Two weeks in March we served over 200 households. Thankfully, we have had enough frozen meat and fresh produce to offer each week. To date, we have not run out of food, but the variety is limited and our shelves look bare at the end of the day.

March began our newest ministry offering adult incontinence products to those in need. We were able to supply 42 people with a week's worth of product. We expect this number to increase as word spreads that we have started this ministry. Our feminine hygiene products ministry is also increasing as we have decided to offer these products each week.

On a sad note, our longtime Sunday evening worship service facilitator, Bob Smith, passed away on March 2. Bob was a member of Greene Street Presbyterian Church and continued to facilitate the service after the church closed. After a fall a few months before COVID caused us to close our Sunday services, Bob was sent to the Georgia War Veterans Home where he spent his last few years. Bob was 97 years old. A memorial service was held during our Sunday evening worship on March 12. Bob's friends and family were in attendance.

We thank our God for entrusting us with His work in serving those in need in downtown Augusta. Please pray for Dorothy. She is hoping that her doctors can figure out why she is passing out. Please pray for all of those who come to GAP. Pray that God will help us look at them with kind and welcoming eyes and help us to replenish their hope that things can get better. We cannot do this without the loyal support from our donors and the loving hands of our volunteers . We are grateful. Please pray.

In His service,
Elaine

Thanks to Golden Harvest for finding the fresh fruit and vegetables and frozen meat that help our clients have a healthy diet.

"GAP Ministries is very, very helpful, especially with what's going on right now," said DaMonda, after shopping in the pantry. "Everything in the economy has gone up. It's hard, especially when you have small children."

As food prices remain high, local mothers Shellah and DaMonda stopped by GAP Ministries to pick up meat, dairy, cereal, fresh bananas and potatoes, bread, canned and shelf-stable goods, and diapers for their families.

Grocery inflation is hitting families, seniors, and neighbors hard. Our partner agencies across the CSRA are serving more guests, many of whom are first-time visitors.

Volunteers at food pantries like GAP are working hard to give our neighbors healthy meals and a smile.

"It brightened my day up. I'm happy," said Shellah.

"I feel good about being able to make food stretch for my kids," said DaMonda.

At Golden Harvest, we are buying more food to meet a rising need in our community — at a time when food costs have skyrocketed.

To help us feed children, families, and seniors, please visit https://bit.ly/3qS3EhX. Every dollar you give can provide 3 meals for the 1 in 8 people who struggle with hunger in our area.

February has shown us that things are not slowing down. We continue to see new families struggling to stretch their budgets as well as individuals facing the same struggles.

Our birth certificate volunteers saw 125 people in February. They got back 57 birth certificates, gave out 40 and sent off 53 applications for new clients. The first two months of this year has shown this ministry will be busier than last year. Our photo ID volunteers transported 29 people to the DDS. 24 of those people now have a photo ID which will bring them closer to employment and housing.

Our nurses had a crazy busy month, seeing 208 clients needing help in getting their prescriptions. They broke their record seeing 66 clients in one day. It is such a blessing to watch these nurses work to help so many people in poor health, always showing compassion and patience with each client.

Our diaper bank volunteers dispensed 227 packages of a week's worth of diapers through the month of February. They are now ranging between 48 - 65 children each week.

Our food pantry served 719 households experiencing food insecurity including 282 walking bags for people with nowhere to cook. We are seeing more people in need of groceries than a walking bag. This has become a challenge to maintaining inventory in our food pantry. Costs have gone up at Golden Harvest as well as availability of products our clients can use. We have been fortunate to have access to white potatoes and oranges for fresh produce and plenty of frozen meat.

Our new feminine product/cleaning supplies ministry served 126 people in February. We are now offering feminine products and a choice of a cleaning product to our female clients each week.

We move into March in prayer. We pray for Sylvia and Deborah who have asked us for prayer. We pray that God will provide enough inventory in our food pantry. We pray for the health of our clients and our volunteers. We pray that the people who come to GAP each week will feel welcome and leave with the hope that their lives will improve. Most importantly, we pray that our clients will know the love our God has for them as they see God's love in us. Please pray for GAP.

In His service,
Elaine

January has proven to us that the need in Augusta is steadily rising. We are seeing record breaking numbers of people in every ministry and hearing unbelievable stories from our client's daily walk.

Today, we broke our record in the food pantry serving 206 households experiencing food insecurity including 73 walking bags for people with nowhere to cook. This is telling because the increase in numbers is in the people needing help with groceries, not those without homes. Our food pantry welcomed 731 visits from households experiencing food insecurity in January including 287 visits for walking bags. We were not able to provide as much fresh produce and the higher cost and lower availability of food at the food bank has challenged us to be able to meet the increased needs we are seeing. We continue to trust that God will provide.

Our birth certificate volunteers saw 140 people in January. They got back 47 birth certificates, gave out 41 and sent off 69 new applications. They are still working with some clients to find a relative to help in the process. If any one can find a way, our experienced volunteers will. Our photo ID volunteers transported 35 people to the DDS. 27 of those people now have their photo ID. These drivers do all they can to help people. get their identification. Today we had a gentleman with only one good eye, could not hear and could not read or understand the form he needed to fill out. We had to handwrite simplified yes or no questions for him to be able to answer the questions. Our volunteer's efforts worked as the man got his photo ID.

Our nurses are also seeing record numbers of clients. In January they worked with 210 clients which is a new average of close to 53 people per week. They are seeing some desperate people sharing that they are ready to give up. We are also hearing good news. The man that asked for prayer for his brother shared that his brother was back home and did not have cancer. One of our long time friends diagnosed with breast cancer shared that she was told she is cancer free.

Our diaper bank volunteers provided 241 packages of a week's worth of diapers to families who cannot stretch their monthly budgets to pay for diapers every week. Parents and grandparents have formed good relationships with our diaper bank volunteers who treat these clients with dignity and enjoy greeting their children with smiles. Our pilot ministry for women's period supplies and cleaning products is also increasing, seeing 111 clients in January.

Our volunteers are our most valuable resource. They come to serve with welcoming hearts. They go home feeling awed by the stories they hear. Like the woman who has struggled for several years with her medication costs enduring countless calls being told she did not qualify for aid. She has finally found a way to reduce her costs. Like the young woman with the word "wicked" tattooed on her throat. She shared that a man cut her throat but she survived. She chose the word to cover the scar so that she would see it every day to remind her there are bad people in the world. Like a long time client who shared he has finally received citizenship in our country. We pray that our faith in our God will be seen by those we serve and give them hope for their futures. We also give thanks to our God for the privilege to walk alongside our clients and learn from their strength and courage to persevere. We thank you for your support and prayers.

In His service,
Elaine
Photos of Point in Time at GAP