Christian Care Ministries Center has history of delivering rental assistance in Picayune

Christian Care Ministries is an ecumenical organization offering support and emergency services to the people of Picayune City, Mississippi.  Founded in 1988 with the aim of helping the most needy, the organisation relies heavily on the support of the local community to help it in carrying out its mission – local churches, businesses and individuals have supported the ministry ever since its founding.  It is a United Way-affiliated organization, and is closely connected to the First Baptist Church of Picayune.

In the years following the Hurricane Katrina disaster, the Christian Care Ministries played a vital role in supporting the recovery of the local community in Picayune, and in ensuring that those most affected by the disaster would not suffer more than they already had.  The Ministry provided assistance and advice to displaced persons seeking housing; they gave rental assistance to a large number of struggling families; they purchased prescription medicines for people with medical needs who were unable to purchase them for themselves; they distributed vouchers for the purchase of clothing; and they distributed gas vouchers to some persons who needed to travel for medical appointments.  The Ministry used FEMA funds which were allocated by the City of Picayune to assist certain persons with rent or basic utility bills; however, eligibility for these programs was subject to strict guidelines and criteria set down by FEMA, and clients were vetted to ensure that they met all the qualifications before they could avail of any assistance.

The Ministry has a Home-Delivered Meals program through which healthy meals are delivered to home-bound clients five days a week.  This program relies heavily on the time donated by a group of volunteer drivers, and the ministry is always searching for more caring people to contribute their time and energy to the program.  The Ministry also operates a Food Pantry, distributing emergency food to families and persons in crisis; typically around 150 families regularly avail of this program which, like the Home-Delivered Meals service, is entirely volunteer-fueled – from stocking shelves and packing bags to travelling to pick up supplies, many local residents donate their time to the Ministry as a way of helping the unfortunate, strengthening the local community, and expressing their religious faith.

Call 601-799-3593 to discuss eligibility requirements and potential benefits.