APRIL UPDATE
From the Board Chair

Greetings friends,

Every month at GAP Ministries seems to be busier than the previous month. Everyone is being affected by the high prices of groceries, utilities and gas. We try to help our clients by filling the gap between poverty and self-sufficiency. We are blessed to be able to help.

GAP’s choice food pantry served more than 940 families with food they need for the month. Clients shop for groceries, fresh produce, frozen meat and baked goods. The meat choices are chicken, ground beef, pork or fish. We were blessed by a donation from the Downtown Cooperative Church Ministries (DCCM) of more than 360 pounds of bread and baked goods. If you would like to donate items to the food pantry in April and May, we are asking for any nonperishable shelf items, especially breakfast cereals and saltine crackers. Walking bags are provided to clients with no way of cooking. Our walking bag volunteers fill the bag with sandwiches, fruit, water and treats. GAP handed out 400 walking bags this month. The United Way gifted GAP with several boxes of mouthwash and toiletry bags. These were included with the walking bags.

Our health hygiene programs of diapers, adult incontinence and period products continue to grow. We are thankful to the many volunteers that purchase, deliver and pack these products. This month 539 children received a week’s worth of diapers, 297 adults received incontinence products, and 182 ladies received period products.

The three birth certificate volunteers served 140 people during the month. They were able to give 56 people a birth certificate and sent off 65 applications. A birth certificate is necessary to receive a photo ID. Many people upon receiving the birth certificate go directly to our photo ID volunteers. These three volunteers do an excellent job of seeing that the clients have all the necessary paperwork before taking them to the DDS. Fifty-one clients went to the DDS with 47 receiving their photo ID.

Our volunteer nurses helped 248 people with prescription assistance, over-the-counter needs, or wellness advice. We welcomed a new volunteer nurse, Nancy, this month.

The restrooms saw an upgrade this month with the installation of new toilet paper dispensers. These dispensers will lower the cost of what is spent on tissue each month.

Another exciting addition to the GAP property is the installation of 50 mailboxes for those without a mailing address. The mailboxes were the initiative of the Augusta Homeless Taskforce. Community agencies will oversee assigning the boxes and maintaining the keys.

Thank you to the many hands that make GAP Ministries a loving and compassionate place to serve and be served.

Gladly serving,

Lola