CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD THE PILLAR & GROUND OF THE TRUTH TCOTLG Community Outreach & Services

When starting out in 2019, we had a dream of tackling a lot of different problem areas, all at one time. As we continued on, we noticed that the hot meals were what the community responded to the most so from that, we refocused our strategy to expanding our feeding program. Being that we are working to provide both a child and adult daycare facility, we incorporated our feeding program into these other initiatives. Currently, we provide hot meals to anyone in the community for holidays and on the second Sunday of every month. For the food box distributions, we service 240 families across Bolivar, Sunflower, and Washington Counties. We have serviced over 200 individual families, and completed 10 feeding services.We took over 20 students and adults to work 4 home games, which completed over 800 community service hours. We have created a 6 week College Prep Workshop for graduating seniors. Being that we are a small nonprofit, we are fully functioning on the donations from church members, board members, community partners, and other do-gooders of the community. We have been working diligently to expand and are hoping to receive government funding and grants within this next year. Here are our three top goals for this past year and what we have been able to accomplish thus far. Originally, we began serving hot food from the pockets of our board members. After a few months, we were able to partner with a church from Memphis, TN to distribute food boxes to over 1,000 families. Since starting, we have partnered with two other food pantries, two nonprofit organizations, and several stores to delivery hot meals and monthly food distributions. We have created and maintained partnerships with seven community partners within this year. The state of Mississippi has approximately 265 after school and summer programs, for which the Delta area holds 15 of those programs. Within the three counties we serve, there are 4 after school programs, 3 in Washington County and 1 in Bolivar. We want to add to that number by designing another after school program that foster interactions across the county lines. We want our program to go beyond the boundaries of school and widen the net for mental stimulation. TCOTLG has applied for multiple grants in all of our areas of interests. As of December, we were able to raise over $800 for our community garden project. Although we have not received any other outside funding, we are still applying for grant awards.

The TCOTLG Backpack Feeding Program is a crucial component of our commitment to holistic support. Rooted in the principles of addressing immediate nutritional needs, the program aims to ensure that students have access to regular and nutritious meals, empowering them to thrive academically and personally. Program Goals: Alleviate Food Insecurity: Provide a reliable source of nutritious meals to students facing food insecurity, ensuring they have the energy and focus needed for academic success. Promote Health and Well-being: Contribute to the overall health and well-being of participants by addressing nutritional needs and promoting healthy eating habits. Ease Financial Burden: Offer relief to families facing financial strain by providing essential meals, reducing the financial burden of providing three daily meals.

The TCOTLG Fruits of Love Community Garden Program is a holistic initiative that transcends traditional gardening. Rooted in the principles of sustainability, self-sufficiency, and community unity, the program aims to empower participants with valuable life skills while creating a resilient and healthier environment. Program Goals: Promote Sustainable Gardening Practices: Educate participants on sustainable methods, promoting environmental consciousness and responsible cultivation. Empower with Life Skills: Provide participants, including youth and the elderly, with valuable life skills related to gardening, nutrition, and community cooperation. Address Food Insecurity: Contribute to alleviating food insecurity by offering a local source of fresh produce for participants and the wider community. Foster community Unity: Create a sense of community unity by bringing diverse individuals together through a shared interest in gardening, fostering positive interactions.