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Twenty five years ago, a Webster University student
wrote a thesis on how to assist needy residents in Webster Groves
and Rock Hill. The result of that effort, Webster-Rock Hill
Ministries (W-RHM), will celebrate its 25th anniversary on Aug.
26.
"I think they do a tremendous job," said Sue Vigen,
a member of the W-RHM Action Council. "They just do so much."
Through donations, fundraisers, and the support of
29 local congregations, today, the non-profit agency serves about
125 families a month, according to Executive Director Mike
Bohannon. It has an active roll of about 300 families.
"We've been operating on faith since our
inception," Bohannon said. "We keep reminding ourselves to
continue to operate on faith and work like heck behind the scenes
to make it work also."
Bohannon
cites one reason for the agency's success is because it's a local,
grassroots effort.
"Being
local makes us tangible," Bohannon said.
W-RHM
attempts to give its clients a "hand up" by helping them to become
more self-sufficient, Vigen noted.
"We help
the unemployed, single-parent situations, lots of grandparents
raising grandchildren — even great- grandparents raising
great-grandchildren," said Bohannon. "We have the elderly, of
course. We can't leave them out. They tend to get hidden.
"We have
families who have temporary bumps in the road. We can help carry
them until they can get stable again," Bohannon added.
Longtime
volunteer and action council member Thelma Phillips said next
month, W-RHM will be inundated with clients who need help with
their utility bills, because of this month's heat wave.
As
action council members, Phillips and Vigen are delegates from one
of the 29 sponsor churches — Phillips from First Baptist Church of
Webster Groves and Vigen from Glendale Presbyterian Church.
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Since March 1992, W-RHM has been serving its
clients from its facility at 111 E. Waymire in North Webster. As
part of 125th anniversary celebrations, First Baptist Church of
Webster Groves, First Congregational Church of Webster Groves and
Webster Groves Presbyterian Church provided 66 percent of the
funding to construct the facility. The balance of the funds came
from other member churches, individuals, businesses and
organizations.
Programs/Services
The programs and services offered by W-RHM are many
and varied.
"Food is key, as well as hygiene bags — toiletry
items which can't be obtained with food stamps," Bohannon
explained. "Utility assistance is a high need as is laundry
detergent.
"We have a volunteer attorney, which is a key
element for folks with any kind of legal situation," he noted.
Programs include its anchor, Adopt a Family at
Christmas.
"We just finished our summer day camp for kids,"
Bohannon said. "We had 39 kids — a little low compared to other
camps we've had.
"We'll be revamping it for next year. It's too
important a program for kids and their parents to not have it."
With school about to start, the agency is putting
together backpacks for needy students, thanks to donations by the
Old Newsboys program.
Whether its Old Newsboys, the Girl Scouts April
Showers or Boy Scouts Scouting for Food, or other organizations,
Bohannon can count on the community to help.
As an example, Bohannon said if he's running short
of food, all he has to do is call area schools. They hold food
drives and within weeks, he is inundated with canned goods.
Bohannon is happy when he's able to help his
clients and make a difference in their lives. One such client is a
single mother with four daughters who has been selected to receive
a Habitat For Humanity house.
"That's one of the neatest things for us to see,"
Bohannon said. "She's able to become independent and to get out of
the trap of rent." |
A Retiring Executive Director
Bohannon has been executive director for eight
years. A former volunteer, when the position became open in 1999,
he asked to be considered for it. In November, he plans to retire.
"It's nice to be passionate about something, but
I'm ready to pass it on," Bohannon said about leaving. However,
after a new director has transitioned into the position, Bohannon
hopes to volunteer at the agency again.
"He will be hard to replace," Vigen said. "We wish
he would go on forever."
Bohannon is the only paid person on staff. About 25
volunteers help man the office.
"We need volunteers that would be willing to give
up their time to help with projects and things we have," noted
Phillips.
Celebrating 25 Years
Bohannon will be on hand when W-RHM holds it
anniversary celebration on Sunday, Aug. 26, at 2 p.m., at 111 E.
Waymire. The keynote speaker will be Penny Holste, minister at
Christ Lutheran Church.
Vigen said she is hoping W-RHM's first director,
Rose Walls, who served from September 1983 to 1995, will be able
to attend. Webster Groves Mayor Gerry Welch, Rock Hill Mayor Julie
Morgan and Shrewsbury Mayor Bert Gates are also expected to be on
hand. Other dignitaries who have been invited include State. Sen.
Mike Gibbons, Rep. Kathlyn Fares and St. Louis County Council
Member Barbara Fraser. The public is also invited. Refreshments
will be served and the building and grounds will be on display.
Mike Bohannon, left,
executive director of Webster-Rock Hill Ministries, helps cut
branches in North Webster with Jenna Harrison from Appleton, Wisc.
Harrison was part of Catholic Heart Charities, which spent a week
in St. Louis fixing up houses for W-RHM’s families. photo by Diana
Linsley |
