From a press release:
Peoria-South Side Mission has been awarded the honor of being named a top ten ministry in the United States for 2008 by the Acton Institute and published by World Magazine. Each of these ten “grassroots” non profit organizations are highly successful privately funded charities whose work is direct, personal, and accountable.
Because of the extensive work that the Mission has undertaken in building up the community on the south side of Peoria, the External Ministries of South Side Mission were recognized as a charity who, like the Good Samaritan of the New Testament, get intimately involved with individuals and work to bring about real change in the lives of those in need.
Director of External Ministries, Minister Craig Williams, is thankful for the honor. “We continue to do the work that the Lord places before us, serving the poor, and it is an honor to be recognized by a publication that we respect and usually look to for inspiration and new ideas to change lives.”
The August 23 edition of WORLD Magazine (www.worldmag.com) features a profile of South Side Mission’s External Ministries; along with the nine other finalists, including the Samaritan Award winner; Restoration Ministries, Inc. from Harvey, IL.The Samaritan Award is given annually to encourage charities who would not receive national attention for the quiet work that they do to improve the lives of those in the communities where they serve. For more information about the Samaritan Award or the Samaritan Guide, please visit www.samaritanguide.com.
South Side Mission is Peoria’s oldest rescue mission, and has been serving the poor of our community since 1925. The external ministries of South Side Mission include:
- Hope Builders — free repair for south side homeowners
- Satellite Offices — in two housing projects on the south side
- Elderly Services — dignity for south side senior citizens in crisis
- School Ministries — in three Peoria public schools
- Adopt-A-Block — Providing servant evangelism in on of the poorest zip codes in Illinois
I believe they are also the organization that orchestrates the huge Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners every year. They can serve a full Thanksgiving meal for a family of 8 for something like a $20. donation.
Another simple and easy way to support the Southside Mission is to donate your unwanted clothes, toys and household goods to their Mission Store on Knoxville Avenue, just a few blocks North of the I74 access (on the West side of the Road).
I believe the Thanksgiving/Christmas dinners are done by the Peoria Rescue Mission.
Oh oops. In any event, we enjoy sending in that little envelope every year imagining we are feeding another family.
I used to attend a Christmas party every year and every couple had to bring a tureen of soup. The hostess had all kinds of breads to go with. It was $25 a couple to attend and all the proceeds went to the soup kitchen. It was a great party. Everyone also brought a bottle of wine.
Anyway, just an idea for those that would like to contribute any monies to the South Side Mission.
If memory serves me correctly, South Side Mission was started by two women, one of whom I think was Dr. Dean Bordeaux’s aunt–but my memory has failed me before. I’m really reaching back in time for that one–but would like to know if anyone can verify or dispute it.
South Side Mission does host an extensive Thanksgiving meal where we will prepare and deliver or serve over 2,000 meals for the poor, elderly, or shut in of our community.
We do this with volunteer laborers and the generous donations of ’regular’ people and corporate sponsors, and without government or tax dollars.
To my knowledge, this is the largest undertaking of this sort in the greater Peoria area, and we are so very thankful for the opportunity to serve in this way. Thank you! For more information, please log on to our website: http://www.southsidemission.org