Unprecedented giving, both monetarily and through volunteer hours, enabled Integrity Alabama to provide more than 3300 blankets through ten different agencies at more than a dozen distribution points.
This year’s efforts have benefited Birmingham-area homeless, working poor, immigrant families, indigent nursing home patients, clients of two homeless shelters, people affected by AIDS and mentally ill group home residents.
The Rev. Deacon Mary Vandagriff, chapter chaplain, reported “very positive and appreciative” response to an initial distribution to clients of Community Kitchens at St. Andrews. A social worker at Jefferson DHR, which has received blankets three years now for distribution to clients of the Children's Assistance Unit, describes the ministry as an effective response to, " ... the neediest of the needy."
The blanket drive has also included a response to people living with AIDS by purchasing items that are not readily available through existing social service programs. A significant increase of service to this community occurred this year, when every client of Birmingham AIDS Outreach and AIDS Alabama, approximately 310 people, received at least three gift items.
The Rev. Dr. Ruth LaMonte, rector of Trinity Church in Bessemer, initiated another distribution point in Bessemer in recent drives. Networking through the parish's neighborhood association and the Bessemer Mayor’s office, this effort has become a regular distribution point for needy in the western part of metropolitan area.
In early December, blankets have been delivered to Community Kitchens at St. Andrew's, the Jefferson County Department of Human Resources (DHR), Birmingham AIDS Outreach (BAO), Grace By Day at Grace-Woodlawn and the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Central Alabama. Additional distributions were made to:
Indigent and homeless people in the Southside, Eastlake and Woodlawn neighborhoods;
Indigent nursing home residents in North Birmingham;
Clients of Hospitality Network sheltered at All Saints-Homewood the last week of December;
Clients of a downtown housing facility for women and children; and,
Residents of a group home for the mentally ill.
Integrity Alabama is always looking for blanket donations. Please remember when you go shopping to pick up a blanket (or a few) to help us help others.
May God bless you in all you do!
