Bernadette - March 2020

It was an honor to have Governor Parson and the First Lady visit our mission last month. As we toured the Outreach Center and then the Worth Shop, it became evident he was impressed with the power of private charity and the coupling of real compassion with the challenge of personal responsibility. Afterward in a meeting, some of the Watered Gardens team shared their personal insights highlighting how government’s help for the poor often does more harm than good and I assured him the private sector is much more capable of meeting the needs of neighbors than the state. Bernadette’s story is a great example.

“After a car accident last year left me unable to do much of anything physically, we had the opportunity to move in to a first floor apartment. But we had a small window in which to get moved in, I was running out of time, I needed help and was about out of options.

“Then I thought about Watered Gardens. I had had good experiences here in the past, earning food by working in the Thrift Store and the Worth Shop, so I called to see if anyone could help. I was connected with Casie and the Neighbor Connect team, and they were awesome. They had a men’s group from a local church help me. They were truly a Godsend. They got us moved into our apartment in 45 minutes! I’m so thankful for this ministry.”

Neighbor Connect is a program of Watered Gardens connecting one neighbor’s need to another neighbor’s skill. Bernadette, a widow on a fixed income with a 12 year old son, was a neighbor in need. Every day, we’re working through Neighbor Connect to employ volunteers to serve people like Bernadette. Your continued support powers private, compassionate charity that’s changing lives.

To learn more about Neighbor Connect or to get involved, visit neighborconnect.us.

Thank you.