CHHSM Welcomes Two New Members
CHHSM warmly welcomed two new members during its 79th annual meeting in March: Joint Neighborhood Ministry in St. Louis, Missouri, and The Franklinton Center at Bricks in Whitakers, North Carolina.
Joint Neighborhood Ministry is a small nonprofit that helps meet the food, financial and health needs of thousands of people in the community who struggle with self-sufficiency.
Executive Director Lorren Buck says it’s a landmark year for the organization in more ways than one. “We’re celebrating our 50th anniversary this year,” she says.
The organization recently decided to increase the emphasis on social justice in carrying out its mission. That means helping people thrive versus helping people survive, Buck says.
As the organization evolves, CHHSM’s tools and resources will prove invaluable in providing best practices, fresh perspectives and opportunities for collaboration, Buck says.
She hopes for greater overall empowerment among those who often feel invisible in society.
“It’s a big task, but without the anchor of justice, people can’t be assured to live self sufficiently,” she says.
The Franklinton Center, meanwhile, is rooted in a long tradition of serving those who occupy neglected corners of society. The Whitakers area has one of the highest poverty and illiteracy rates in the country and is the second-largest food desert in the United States.
To meet the needs of area residents, the center offers educational opportunities and workshops on church and community leadership; rural, racial and social justice; and spiritual growth and development. It also hosts community and family events and partners with many area organizations in a variety of outreach programs.
Michael Readinger, CHHSM president and CEO, is eager to connect CHHSM and its community to its newest members.
“We are thrilled to welcome Joint Neighborhood Ministry and The Franklinton Center to CHHSM,” Readinger says. “My hope is that CHHSM can be a resource for these organizations so they can do even more good work in their communities.”
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