God must receive all the glory for the
support we receive to operate Jericho Road Ministries. In the beginning, we had
no funds to operate. All we utilized was our faith in God and the knowledge of
His Spirit leading us to begin a ministry to the least and the lost among us. A
vision for a Rescue Mission for reaching out to the homeless was shared with
people throughout the county. In God’s time, He moved people to begin
supporting this vision for Rescue Ministry with money and in-kind donations.
Since then we continue to pray for God to raise up His people to support this
Gospel Rescue Mission that we call Jericho Road Ministries.
The Mission is
supported by several thousand individuals, businesses, civic groups and
churches in Hernando County and beyond. Without their support of financial and
in-kind donations Jericho Road Ministries would not exist. With their support
we have been able to establish homes for men, women and families who find
themselves in need of temporary emergency shelter or longer term programs of
recovery. Nearly half of our support comes from these gracious and faithful
supporters.
Our
Thrift Stores contribute over half of our operating support. Currently our four
stores are able to receive the in-kind donations from the community and turn
them into funds used for our shelters. In addition, we are able to give some of
this merchandise to needy families and individuals who are being served by
Jericho Road or one of the many other local social service agencies or churches
within our community. The stores also provide a place for our New Life Program
Clients to participate in our Work Therapy Program that helps to equip them for
employment beyond the walls of Jericho. Lastly, the stores are also able to
offer community service workers a place to earn credit towards their probation
requirements, students a place to gain experience and credit for school
graduation requirements. Our stores provide tremendous support for all the
programs offered by Jericho Road and support for other residents in the
community.
Lastly,
we receive some federal and state grants for our Emergency Shelter Programs.
Foundations and other private funding sources are available to us as well.
These sources account for approximately 10% of our total operating needs. These
donors are a blessing to Jericho Road in rounding out our financial needs.
These groups, by their support, affirm the integrity and dedication of our
staff to providing quality and consistent program services to the least and the
lost in our community.