By Donna Campbell
For a quarter of a century, Interfaith Compassionate Ministry has been a collaborative effort among dozens of local churches to help Lafayette County residents meet their basic needs.
People come to ICM when they face crisis situations – whether they’re homeless, have substance abuse problems, need legal counsel, or need help making ends meet.
Founded in September of 1999, the non-profit is financially supported by the United Way Lafayette-Oxford-University Grant, private donations, and a grant from the Emergency Food and Shelter Program.
Still, it’s never enough to meet the needs.
According to executive director Lena Wiley, families and individuals in Lafayette County go without proper food, shelter, and essential medical care every day due to various factors, including low wages, job loss, injuries, illness, age, domestic violence, or divorce. The organization assists local families with basic needs such as rent, utilities, food, medical care, and transportation to jobs. It helps stabilize them, prevent homelessness, and provide counseling, which may include prioritizing financial decisions.
“While all of us are susceptible to hard times, children and the elderly are at the most risk, and they make up many clients we serve,” she said.
It also helps or can direct individuals to agencies that can help with domestic violence aid to victims, education and GED assistance, job training, legal counseling through the University of Mississippi Civil Legal Clinic, foster children assistance and elderly assistance.
Wiley said Interfaith Compassion Ministry is also the community’s primary agency that assists homeless individuals through counseling, temporary housing, food, and stabilization in new living arrangements.
Wiley said the holiday season’s most significant needs for those they serve are helping to keep their homes warm in the winter months and Christmas presents for their children under the tree.
For that, Wiley is asking for donations of new, unwrapped children’s toys to be brought to the Interfaith Compassion Ministry offices at 1918 University Avenue in Oxford.
Financial contributions to support propane gas utilities are also welcome. The organization is not set up for online giving, but Wiley welcomes checks or money orders that can be dropped off or mailed to the University Avenue office.
However, the community has needs all year long, and Interfaith Compassion Ministry’s mission is to meet those needs. That’s why monetary donations to the non-profit are always appreciated.
“We see the mass of the people in need in Lafayette County, and it stays local,” she said.
