Your MAMA now a United Way Funded Partner 10 0ctober 2010

Donors filling out their United Way pledge forms this campaign season will notice a new agency listed among the family of Member Agencies. The Marysville Area Ministerial Association was formally added to the fold at last month's Board Meeting. And while MAMA isn't new to the community, the association of area churches has taken on a new role of coordinating help provided from the local faith-based community. Volunteers of the Marysville Food Pantry prepare boxes for the weekly distribution. United Way now funnels its quarterly funding to four area food pantries through the Marysville Area Ministerial Association. United Way now funnels its quarterly funding to food pantries in Marysville, Plain City, Richwood, and Milford Center through MAMA. And MAMA is a key partner in the Union County Emergency Assistance Program (also funded by United Way), which meets unusual needs that fall between the cracks of the existing social service system. "They've taken their place again in the community, not only with the food issue, but with all the community services that are out there," said Keitha Simpson, Board Member of the Marysville Food Pantry. Simpson expressed gratitude for the help MAMA provided this summer with a technical issue to help the Pantry retain its 501c3 status. In addition, MAMA can help promote immediate needs the pantries have among their congregations. "We don't handle the management. We're not involved in the day-to-day operations. We're just a fiscal agent for them," said Jessica Schulze, Director of Compassion Ministries for MAMA. "But this partnership allows us to bring the nutritional needs of the community and the needs of the pantries to the forefront of the community." Did you know? When the Marysville Food Pantry distributes food to a client, they provide about 40 meals per person. That's enough food to last about two weeks. A client is able to access the Marysville Food Pantry once a month. The increased coordination of resources grew because criminals were scamming well-meaning church administrators (click here for a story we did on this issue in 2006). Working in conjunction with the Sheriff's Office and many of the social service agencies in the county, MAMA uses a database and phone system to process and track needs by e-mail to churches and agencies who are able to respond and collaborate to meet needs. For example, if a church hears that a family is in need of a stove (an appliance not typically provided by any local agency), the "all-call" goes out to MAMA and EAP participants. And if a parishioner at another area church has an extra stove they're not using out in their garage, the connection can be made and the stove provided. "It provides a level of protection to individual donors and churches and agencies that needs are legitimate and have been processed through all the social service agencies," Schulze said. "There's been good case management. We're not paying a need that another agency could have paid. It allows us to track needs over a long period of time to make sure as many as possible are met. It allows for increased generosity and allows people an opportunity to give. It avoids fraud and duplication of effort." MAMA has many long-term goals for the community, some of which are already being realized. A new program developed over the summer fed over 700 families, mostly children who weren't receiving the lunch they'd typically get at school. Starting next week, free hot lunches will be served every Wednesday (at New Life Church) and Friday (at Bible Baptist Church) for anyone who stops in. MAMA is also instrumental in coordinating plans for the Hope Center, which would be a centralized location to provide food, personal needs items, clothing, furniture, and more. "This is just the beginning of what we will be able to accomplish as partners," Schulze said. "We're honored to be part of the United Way as a Member Agency and to support the vision and goals United Way has for our community."