More Grace Outreach is a multidenominational faith-based organization that exists to reach people from all walks of life. They have never turned away from anyone in need and strive to make dedicated efforts to walk through the areas of their lives we can to help ease the daily struggles so many have in this life. If you can make it to them, they will help and welcome you with open arms.
The organization was born from humble beginnings and a simple idea: doing what we can with what we have. Fifteen years ago, a nonprofit organization was established that began to clothe the community with donations from neighbors. That pace continued as one table spread to the expanse of the entire building. Today, years later, this community reach has hit the needs of thousands in our area. Clothing, household goods, food, a personal care and diaper pantry, tutoring, counseling, and close to 54 home construction projects all resourcing Marion and surrounding counties. The reach continues to grow, helping resource local students and teachers as they launch back to school each year.
These past few days, I have had the pleasure of interviewing a lady I respect immensely. Her name is Elizabeth Luffy. She is the foundation of MGO. Without her this program wouldn’t exist. She came up with the idea with her daughter. She is the director, and she loves what she does. Beth has been an amazing friend, counselor, Pastor, you name it, and she’s had some role she’s filled for so many people. The purpose of her organization was created to help those in need with what they could. When interviewing her, she explained that the birth of More Grace Outreach started with a single table of food and household items. As it grew it developed into a small cozy donation center that now offers food, clothing for all ages and genders, as well as games, toys for children, books, and so on. As the Director of Operations, she also maintains leadership over volunteers, events, and programs. Today, as you read this article, she needs help to continue achieving her lifelong dream of helping the needy.
I happened upon More Grace Outreach when I first moved to West Virginia. The other day, I was checking in on her and she told me how frustrated she was because sponsors she had been relying on for help with general and pantry funding were not providing like they had been. Some of the sponsors had even backed out for unknown reasons. She had to use personal funds from her own depleting savings to try and purchase things that she knew were needed for the families who come in daily. She mentioned that she gets several text messages daily from families in need and a lot of the time it is people that have not been to More Grace Outreach but had been referred from others who were able to utilize its resources. The cost to use this resource is $30 but Beth has sponsored families and paid their fees so that they did not have to try and scrounge up even that small amount. They let you space out the payment over the entire year, so if you only have a dollar to start with, they accept it. The use of More Grace Outreach’s clothing ministry and flee market style household goods is limitless, but the food pantry is once a month due to the sheer number of people who come in needing help. To date, Luffy has helped over 800 families in need. However, she is running out of resources to provide. She still has to provide for her minor daughter as well.
With this type of reach, More Grace Outreach is always looking for volunteers to help in all areas of service. If you have a heart to strengthen your community and bring relief for individuals and families in need, we host team volunteer days and individual student community service hours. That opportunity can be arranged by contacting our front office (304) 435-5470 and the email is [email protected]
This coming Fall, at the MGO building, we will be hosting two fundraising events and a Christmas experience for families. If you have a heart to organize and help your community, we can get you started immediately. Any volunteer is welcome, and nothing is too little. If you want to volunteer hours that is also appreciated and needed!
Areas of volunteer service include:
- Grant writing
- Communications/ Advertising
- Donation intake/ organization
- Kitchen help
- Pantry stocking / distribution
- Stocking Floor
- Building upkeep and grounds keeping
More Grace Outreach’s funding comes from grants and private, church, and corporate donors.
All funding is used for operational expenses and programming services.
Donors can stand confident that all funding is used in agreement with how they donate. The products speak for themselves and ask any of our members and they can speak directly to how this organization has partnered to lessen their families load as we walk beside with supporting hands.
More Grace Reach stands for community, carrying each other’s burdens, and, by extension, shouldering some of the weight low income, homeless and elderly individuals and their families face. If you have a heart to help, we believe everyone who steps up will find a place in our organization.
If you are interested in investing in our program, yet are not sure where to start, find a place to give back that resonates with you. Volunteer, donate even just spreading the word about More Grace Outreach. Once you look around and can see the struggle in someone’s eyes, you can ease it with a smile or ask how you can help. That is a great start to making your part of the world a brighter place. For Beth, her moment happened fifteen years ago, when she grabbed a handful of friends and set out to make a difference!
So, in conclusion, as a community who is striving to alleviate the hardships of families in need, I am calling out for help: can you assist this nonprofit organization in continuing its mission? If you feel like this is your calling, please contact Beth LUFY by phone email or even on Facebook. Again her contact information is (304) 435-5470 [email protected] and More grace Outreach Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/MoreGraceOutreach?mibextid=LQQJ4d
