Page 70 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2017

GIVING BACK feeding the needy
Istory by Lynn Lofton photo courtesy of Feed My Sheep
and Feed My Sheep was forced to halt operations. The program remained homeless until January 2009 when a new, state-of-the-art facility was opened on 19th Street. With 6,000 square feet, the new facility can serve many more people each day.
Today, the organization serves up to 600 meals daily at its facility and to the home bound. Since re-opening in January 2009, more than one million meals have been served. As the numbers continue to grow, so does the need for support from the community.
“We give thanks to all who donate, volunteer and support our mission,” said Chairman of the Board Ted Riemann. “I’m reminded that we are all children of chance and it’s our duty to care for those around us. For those in need, hunger is a daily struggle.”
IP Resort Casino Spa has supported Feed My Sheep for five years and in 2017 contributed $25,000.
Feed My Sheep
2615 19th St., Gulfport 228.864.2701 www.feedmysheepgulfport.org
n 1983 a group of concerned Christians planted a seed of hope for hungry and needy persons in the Gulfport area when they came together and founded the Gulf Coast
Christian Life Center with Feed My Sheep as an outreach program. Feed My Sheep started small by serving hot meals to approximately 20 homeless people each day out of a vacant Gulfport restaurant.
After several location changes, the soup kitchen was moved to the Gaston Hewes Recreation Center, thanks to a no-cost, 25-year lease from the City of Gulfport. With a kitchen, large dining area and storage space for food, the recreation center was ideal. Hurricane Katrina destroyed the center in 2005
70 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • December 2017
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