Summer has officially begun and the spring season was a busy and productive one for Mission:Change through our Monthly Mission Projects. Volunteers came out in full force to join the movement to “Change The World From Our Backyard”, at places such as serving the homeless a meal at First Presbyterian (which doubled as a M:C birthday party), The Salvation Army, the park at Davis and 1^st, and finishing with a food distribution at Dougherty High School.

The March monthly mission project brought more opportunities for M:C’s volunteers to aid the area’s homeless. This was our very first partnership with The Salvation Army as we served by giving the shelter a serious spring -cleaning. Volunteers could be found doing anything from planting flowers to putting out pine straw in front of the building and a local landscape maintenance service that provided the flowers & straw provided a team to mow all the grass on the property.

We had those who served by scrubbing the cabinets in the kitchen from the inside out, or organizing the mounds of clothing and items in the storage for The Salvation Army’s store.Those who would eat their next meal or spend their next night inside the walls of the Salvation Army would be enjoying the comfort of a clean and tidy place.

 April’s monthly mission project took place at First Presbyterian of Albany, and doubled as a birthday celebration for our organization. Many volunteers came out to spend the morning putting hot dogs in buns, slaw on plates, and handing out waters to our homeless friends. Youth and adults alike came and spent time talking and serving the many homeless from the community that came through the line. We all ended the morning each enjoying a piece of Mission:Change birthday cake.

The park at Davis and First Ave. has become a favorite with many of our volunteers.  These children in this neighborhood are some our city’s most impoverished.

In May the children were treated with a day of fun!  Different inflatable games were set up and the children had a blast!

Greg Ware shared his talents with everyone with his feats of illusion. The day ended with each child receiving lunch as they returned home.

The month of June brought the infamous South Georgia heat with it for the monthly mission project. Food from Second Harvest was transported to Dougherty High School along with boxes of fresh produce for families in need to come and receive. The turnout of volunteers was overwhelming.Several ladies worked at registration tables for the families, while others unpacked and put food into the cars of those in need. A few volunteers spent time on the street holding signs up for oncoming cars to alert them of the food distribution going on. All volunteers were eager to help and sweat for the cause of changing our world starting in a heated parking lot.

Mission:Change also hosted the Students from Leesburg United Methodist Church in June. These students listened to Captain Doug McClure of The Salvation Army & David Blackwell from Mission:Change about the needs and services offered to the homeless and hungry in Albany. They were given a tour of the shelter at The Salvation Army. These students prepared lunch and through the generosity of The Salvation Army the meal was taken and served to the most needy at Faith Community Outreach via The Salvation Army’s mobile canteen.

On behalf of Mission:Change, we would like to thank all the volunteers that come and support our cause on a monthly basis. Your help and willingness is tremendous and the change is happening because of YOU!

I continue to be amazed at the numbers of first time participants each month. You guys make what I do so much fun not to mention what you do for those who do not feel they have a voice. This past year has been awesome and I truly believe that “Greater Things Are Still to Be Done Here”!  Each of us are a part of a major movement of change to those in this city who have been overlooked for too long! Congratulations & Thank You!

This is what others are saying about you:

  “Recently, The Salvation Army of the greater Albany area was reinforced with another army.  This army was the men and women of Mission:Change. Mission:Change came in and did what we could not. They got us caught up in the Family Store. They also “Spring- Cleaned” the kitchen of the community dining room. The landscaping around our buildings has never looked better.

As with any other church or non-profit we live or die by our donors and volunteers. The volunteers from Mission:Change have donated their hearts to The Salvation Army. We, The Salvation Army, are blessed to call them friends and are fortunate to know them as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.”

Douglas McClure, Captain

The Salvation Army

We are changing the world from Albany, GA!! Do not ever stop doing good!

Peace & Love

David Blackwell

Mission Project Coordinator