Angelic Ministries needs your help
By Mike Steely
steelym@knoxfocus.com
Angelic Ministries will host 25 families in need every Tuesday and Wednesday throughout December and supply them with Christmas gifts and various other sundries and household goods the families need. The ministry supplies everything from clothing to furniture for families that have lost most, if not all, of their household belongings. Some clients are struggling to come out of homelessness to start their lives again.
Tony Earl, Executive Director, paused while putting up a Christmas tree last week at the ministry’s 1218 West Central Avenue location in the former Merita Bread factory, in order to take The Focus on a tour of the Christmas gift section there.
The section is ready for the first 50 families and will be restocked following each visit but there’s a need right now for early teen and children’s gifts. The families that come each week are normally referred by churches and ministries and are allowed to pick what they need and also get hot chocolate and cookies. This December Angelic Ministries are accepting any family that comes in for assistance.
“We also need hygiene items for children and adults, men’s pants in size 36 and smaller and men’s underpants,” Earl said. The ministry receives no money from any government funds or agencies and operates solely on the support of caring churches, ministries, private companies, organizations and individuals.
“It’s a great undertaking, we just want to make sure we have enough gifts,” he said.
Donations are received Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.
Many of the people who volunteer or were clients are featured on Angelic Ministries’ Facebook page. The work on the building, the programs there, what is needed and the purpose of the ministry are also featured there.
Earl said they are proud of the graduates from their rehab program, many of whom have gone on to universities, found employment, started their own business or stayed to help out with the ministries.
New this year is equipment in the garage behind the building that can provide oil changes for families. Every Wednesday five families are chosen for the service thanks to a grant from United Way. The hope is to expand that service to more families.
There’s also a new woodworking shop for training.
“In this economy people just can’t get ahead,” Earl said.
Office hours at Angelic Ministries are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 4 pm. All donations receive a tax receipt. If you’d like to volunteer or schedule a tour for your organization the Angelic staff welcomes you and asks you to call Tammy, the Volunteer Coordinator, at (865)523-8884.
Another ministry of Angelic is to help men coming out of homelessness or other rough situations to get on the road to responsibility and self-sufficiency. The ministry has a number of homes in Knoxville where the men live and are able to disciple as a new Christian, train in a job skill and be mentored in a caring, structured environment. The men serve the ministry by picking up, sorting and organizing donations, and helping families to load items. That part of the ministry is also supported by a national network called Christian Men’s Job Corps.
Angelic Ministries, Int. began in 2002, and is a non-profit nondenominational ministry. The primary ministry of Angelic Ministries is to reach out with the practical love of Christ to people entering their doors by providing them furniture, clothing, linens, kitchen supplies, and other needed household items at no cost to them, all wrapped in the love, encouragement, and prayers of the staff and volunteers who serve those who come to the ministry.
