Washington Street Mission

Today the Mission lost one of its community members...another young life lost to addiction. August is Overdose Prevention Month. A month that honors lives lost, supports those affected, and reminds us that addiction affects people from all walks of life.

Awareness matters, but action saves lives. An opioid overdose can happen anywhere, and it is entirely reversible with naloxone (Narcan). Carrying Narcan doesn’t mean expecting the worst—it means being prepared to protect a friend, family member, or neighbor in an emergency.

Through Illinois' DOPP program, Narcan, including training, is available free of charge at the Mission.

And remember...RECOVERY is possible.

Today at a special lunch for Mission staff, volunteers and friends we are celebrating our longest-serving staff member and volunteer, Floyd, who is officially retiring this coming Friday. We cannot thank him enough for his years of service to the Mission and our community members.

Over the years he has touched countless lives and served thousands upon thousands of meals. He has at opened his home to individuals in recovery and helped line up others with employment opportunities.

He starts every day with a smile as he leads our morning prayer. He will be missed. On behalf of our staff, Board of Directors, and community members: Thank you Floyd! May your days ahead be filled with the best fishing and safe travels, and while you are leaving for now, we'll patiently wait for those days when you return to volunteer 😁!

If you see Floyd out and about, be sure to congratulate him and thank him for his dedication to helping those in need.

Thank you to Obedient Servants Mission Camp from Petersburg for helping at the Mission last week. We a blessed to have this and other youth groups join us throughout the year.

Over the past two months, the Mission's food pantry has served over 152 households and 317 people. The food pantry is open to the public on Wednesdays from 12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Donations of food items for the pantry may be dropped off Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Today our staff had a special birthday celebration with one of our community members who has volunteered daily for almost 2 years and faces every one of the challenges in his life with a smile on his face and love in his heart. Happy Birthday John!

Join us at Comer Cox Park on Friday, August 7th, 11:00a.m. - 2:00p.m. for the 5th Annual Celebration in the Park! We will be serving up free food, free haircuts, music, a kids fun zone, and giveaways! We'll have services on hand for health, housing, recovery, id's and more!

w/ SIU Medicine, The Salvation Army Springfield IL & Sangamon County, Cherry Hills Church, St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Springfield Urban League Inc., Taste for The Homeless

The simplest acts of kindness make the biggest difference. One of our long-time volunteers is spending the morning handing out cards she made, as she visits with our community menbers, to remind them just how awesome they are!

The Mission is need of a few extra volunteers to help park cars at the Menard County Fair on the evenings of July 14, 15, and 18th.

Sign up form:

Menard County Fair Parking Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you!

One of the most enjoyable parts of summer are the many small and large youth groups able to join us at the Mission to serve. Thank you to our friends at the First Reformed Church of Wichert for stopping off on their way through town today for a tour and to help make sandwiches.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Over the past week we have been blessed to help five of our community members enter addiction treatment centers. This includes one couple who have spent the past two years on the streets, refusing shelter, and refusing housing. But they continued to visit us daily, and surprised our staff when they told us they were finally ready for change. Because of medical conditions it took our staff 2 days to secure beds; and when the second bed became available after hours, a Mission staff and outreach from Family Guidance Centers hit the streets to find them.

The journey for these 5 individuals is just beginning, and the Mission and its partners will be there every step of the way.