By Amanda Calhoun
Staff Writer
SPRINGFIELD — Contact Ministries has been helping homeless women and children since 1978.
On Oct. 15, the group was raising money through a concert at the United Methodist Church on Koke Mill Road. The money will support employment assistance, budgeting, family literacy, parenting classes, tutoring, and case management, with a goal of finding and maintaining permanent housing. Referrals are made for day care, treatment centers, adult education, and other mainstream resources.
“We provide shelter and help for women and children who are homeless,” said Randy O’Brien, the ministry’s president.
Contact Ministries was founded in 1978, as a result of multi-denominational, church-based commitment to help those in need in Springfield and the surrounding area.
In November 1993, Contact Ministries expanded its services to the less fortunate of the area by opening a transitional shelter women and children who don’t have homes. In 2013, Contact Ministries further expanded by opening an emergency shelter for single women and women with children of all ages who are homeless. These shelters provide a safe haven to stabilize families in a Christian environment.
“Working at Contact Ministries helps us change your life and an opportunity to work,” said Veronica Usoroh.
Chalise Smith added, “And for other women, (it provides) an opportunity to help them get a job.”
Amanda Calhoun can be reached at [email protected].