Last Updated on April 24, 2016 by cassnetwork
We want people to know about all the great things our community has to offer, so we’re inviting every business, organization and program in Cass County to be featured on Cass County Online. All you have to do is use this form to tell us about yourself.
This week’s featured organization is Emmaus Mission Center, located at 805 Spencer Street in Logansport. They can be reached at 574-739-0107 or online at www.logan-emmaus.org.
The Emmaus Mission Center is a Christian ministry dedicated to assisting the poor to break out of poverty by providing them with job skill training, education and access to food, clothing and shelter. Our organization is comprised of a homeless shelter, thrift store and food pantry, each of which serves a vital need in our community.
The Emmaus Mission Center was founded in 1994 with the purchase of the lot encompassing 805, 825 and 829 Spencer Street, formerly St. Vincent’s Catholic school, church and rectory.
Before we had any thoughts of a homeless shelter, Emmaus initially started its operations as a pro-life center at 805 Spencer Street, staffed entirely by volunteers and supported with donations of food, clothing, building materials and supplies from friends, churches and organizations within the local community. The generosity of our friends and neighbors soon allowed us to open us a thrift store and food pantry, which are still in operation today.
Our pro-life ministry eventually became Morningstar Girls’ Home, a state licensed Residential Child Care facility; one of only a handful in our area. In the years that followed, state budget cuts saw the closure of Morningstar after over a decade of valuable service.
After passing through a period of restructuring in recent years, Emmaus still retains three of its original, important components: a homeless shelter, thrift store and food pantry.
The shelter hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Thrift Store hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. Food Pantry hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday to Friday; 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday evening and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.
In 2015 we gave temporary shelter to over 170 individuals at our homeless shelter and provided food to over 550 families per month through our food pantry.
Of the 170 people housed at our shelter throughout last year, one in five were under eighteen years of age.
As with many non-profits, volunteers make up the backbone of our operation and are always very much appreciated. We are always grateful for volunteer assistance, whether it be helping to hand out food at our pantry, sorting clothing and items at our thrift store or arranging a meal for our shelter residents.
We would also be blessed by donations of cleaning supplies, bedding, towels and washcloths and diapers and wipes for the families we serve.
If you are part of a youth group, church group or other gathering of benevolent people, food drives and service projects are a great way to get involved and help us help others.
The Emmaus Mission Center is currently governed by a board of six people and employs three full-time and three part-time staff. Sandra Curry currently presides over the Board of Directors and Jason Mitchell is Emmaus‘ current Executive Director.
Each day, we are so grateful to be part of such a loving and generous community of people that, though their kindness, allow us to serve others. We are indebted to our donors and volunteers for their prayerful support of our mission.