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I’ve been a long time prayer intercessor for the needs of those I’ve encountered at my church and for those I’ve interacted with throughout my life.
Recently I’ve answered the call to serve homeless people and families by creating personal care kits.
As I began the process of assembling and distributing these care packages, The Lord began to bring others to help and to multiply my simple offerings of love.
One of these dear friends has been Deirdre Stewart. Her heart for homeless, broken and the seemingly forgotten and unnoticed of this world found a place to use her spiritual gifts to help support this project through the giving of her intercession, time and her genuine heart of love.
God has been so faithful to bringing people like Deidre to help further this ministry to those living on the margins of our community. Deirdre’s pursuit to live her life walking in the footsteps of Jesus and to be a reflection of His heart has found a place in our growing ministry to the poor.
The care kits we assemble are composed of travel size toiletries, non perishable snacks and other items that make life easier for homeless people and families.
It started off as a nice idea that the Lord inspired within me about 6 months ago, but now it has blossomed into a ministry. It has grown into a monthly outreach through local churches and people with a heart to serve the homeless within the Inland Empire in Southern California.
At this time we serve about 50 homeless people and families per month with a desire to increase our outreach to those who live in extreme financial and spiritual need.
I’m humbled by how God takes my simple offering of these kits and turns them into beautiful treasures that offer dignity and hope.
Each kit is a small reflection of the boundless love our Lord has lavished on me and I’m truly grateful.
Over the months we’ve been assembling and handing out our Care Kits, we find that the homeless are most appreciative of the socks, hand towels, soap, and underwear.
There are so many ways to offer simple offerings of love each day.
The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40
SHELLY GARRISON-MCCOY is a Social Worker who has worked for 10 years with at risk youth through the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services and with the developmentally delayed adult population through Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino County CA. Shelly earned her BA in Psychology from California State University, San Bernardino. She is also a certified Life Coach. It has been her pleasure to serve her local church on the steering committee for disaster preparedness and she leads the Sisters of Support ministry for single moms and divorcees.
DEIRDRE STEWART is a Substitute Teacher for special needs children and she has a love for teaching preschoolers. She earned her BA in Human Development with an emphasis in Child Development. Deirdre’s passions are for worship and praise as well as prayer and intercession. She has a heart to minister the love of God to the homeless, broken and seemingly forgotten and unnoticed of this world; to remind them of their worth and value, that they may know the love of God. Her pursuit in this life is to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and be a reflection of His heart. Her favorite scripture is: “…how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” Acts 10:38
You Are Not the Only One 