Grace and Mercy slates volunteer training

The residential ministry for women coming out of homelessness and incarceration seeks volunteers to help in the program's home and thrift store.

Grace and Mercy, a residential ministry that gives support to women coming out of homelessness or incarceration, will provide training for volunteers who are interested in helping at the program’s home and thrift store. 

The training will be from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 29, at 1507 S. Main St. A light lunch will be served. Reservations should be made by calling Grace and Mercy founder Carolyn Self at 270-887-3522. 

Most of the women in the Grace and Mercy program are between the ages of 20 and 40.

“Many come with dreams of becoming healthy and restoring family relationships,” Director Joanna Mack said in a news release. “This is a large focus at Grace and Mercy in addition to acquiring jobs and learning to become self-sufficient.”

Volunteers are needed in the residence and at the thrift store. At the residence, volunteer work ranges from meal preparation and cooking lessons to driving women to work and appointments. Some lead craft and exercise sessions or help with Bible studies. At the thift store, volunteers help receive, sort and label donated goods, including clothing and furniture, along with other tasks. 

Other volunteers help Grace and Mercy sell fudge at special events. 

The residents have received COVID-19 vaccinations, and volunteers are requested to be vaccinated as well, Self said in the release. 

Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. She spent 30 years as a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition.