Al & Diane Mellinger's Missionary Adventure

A Couple of Stories!

November 25, 2023

 

The Impact of a Braided Chew Toy!

 

This fall a lady came into the shop. We greeted her as we do all customers letting them know about the shop and what we do.

 

As I was about halfway through, she interrupted me and said are you the one that goes to the shelter?

 

I said yes, we are. She then stated that she was there, and we paid her to make chew toys for the dogs. She continued I am getting married, and we are buying a home and I wanted to come by and make a purchase to help you guys out with what you are doing.

 

We thanked her for coming in and for her success, but inside I was holding back the tears.  We often do not get to hear how the folks we are helping, even in just a little bit.  Sometimes we do not know if what do is appreciated or even helping, but occasionally, we hear a success story that reenforces our drive to serve those in need that we encounter.

 

Your contribution to our development fund will help us do more projects to help folks and groups we can partner with. Click here

 

Woman’s Home

 

Every month we go to a local low-income elderly home near us.  We have 7 residents of the home that we work with each month.

 

We take in the raw materials and show them what needs to be done. The items that they made last month are picked up and paid for.  The skill set is everything from a 2-step project to sewing our Heating and Cooling pads.

 

These gals don’t have the funds to live alone and so what they do have coming in all goes to covering their living expenses.  The home does give them $60 a month for incidentals. That does not go very far so what they make from us helps them get some things they want but couldn’t otherwise.

 

What amazed me was we drove by this home for years never knowing what they do and what help they need.  As we have more donations we are now on the lookout to find more groups serving those in need and see if we can partner with them. 

 

To give to our development fund go to https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/3138219

 

Gratitude

November 20, 2023 – It is a couple of days before Thanksgiving, and we are looking forward to having our family at our house this year.  As we look over the past year, we are filled with gratitude for all that we saw God do.

We met so many people who were and are supportive of the ministry we have to the poor around the world.  Yet we also find ourselves exposed to so many more that we would like to serve and share the love of God.

One area is our local REED Workshops and Reed Workshop Center.  This is where we pay the homeless and low-income elderly to produce items that we sell in the store and online.  What we need to increase this ministry is start-up/development funds.  As we pay them when they produce the items not when they are sold.  That means we need funds upfront to start working with new groups.

This year as you think about Giving Tuesday and where you want your donations to go, would you consider a donation to REED Workshops?  Every amount helps us serve and encourage those who are in true need.  To give click here https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/3138219  all funds given this month will be used to expand the REED Workshops for 2024.

Upcycled angels out of sheet music in our Reed Workshops

Thanks again for your prayers and support!  We are truly grateful for your partnership!

Here is a Recent interview we did for our 5th Anniversary

 

 

 

5 Years and.....

November 13, 2023 – Happy anniversary to us!  It was on November 15, 2018, that the Around the World Shop opened and began selling handmade items that help the poor.  What started out as primarily knitwear now has more than 5000 items from more than 50 countries, partnering with more than 30 organizations.  When we started 5 years ago, we never thought of what it would become.

One of the major focuses we have now is working with the needy in our own back yard.  As part of the program, we now monthly work with the homeless and the low-income elderly in Jackson. 

We will go to the Interfaith Shelter (homeless) with the materials needed and teach the folks to make something that we then sell in the store.  They are paid $10 an hour for their time and it will run from 2-3 hours when we go.  We work with 4-5 folks each time.

We also go to a home for low-income elderly woman.  Again, once a month we go to their facility and give them the materials needed to make specific projects.  We pick up what they made the month before and pay them for their time. We give them new materials for this month’s project. We currently have 7 clients there.

REED Workshop

This year we have been working to create a workshop where bigger and more skilled products can be made.  We have space in the store and some equipment to create bigger and better products.  We are excited about this but also need some help.

Since we pay the folks, we are serving as they work, we need the funds up front to cover materials and their labor. We are asking that for GIVING TUESDAY this year you might consider a gift to the Development Fund for the REED Workshop.  This will give us funds to invest in people who are often down on their luck and need a hand up.  By having more funds up front we can better plan projects that are sustainable and will help us better teach more life long skills.

We project in the workshop it will cost us about $500 a month to manage the projects.  If you would like to give to this idea you can mail a check to Marketplace Manna 151 E Michigan, Jackson, Mi or give on-line by clicking here. https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/3138219

We want to share one story. This fall a lady and young daughter came into the store. We greeted her explaining what we do and why.  She asked, ‘Are you the ones who go to the shelter?”  We said yea and she told us she did the dog chew toys before but is now back on her feet, getting married and they are buying a home. She said “I wanted to come by and see the store, help by buying something and to say thanks.

When I encounter folks who’s lives, we had a small part in making a difference we are reminded why we do what we do!   Your support helps us to do what we dol.  Thank YOU, for the prayers and financial contributions you can make.

Here are some pictures of items made this year.