April 2016
FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR—RAY ANDERSON
Greetings from Open Gate Ministries, Inc.
As we are coming close to the mid-year of 2016, I can see many challenges facing our ministry. The anticipated good winter didn’t replenish the water supply and the experts predict another drought for this summer. Also the passing of the new minimum wage law recently is good news for some but a challenge for others like Open Gate, which puts a strain upon the financial impact of this ministry. For every $1.00 per hour of increase in the mini- mum wage it has an impact of $ 20,000.00 per year in our operating expenses. That challenge is a very real one for our ministry.
This past January we started our 2016 fund drive of the $10.00 Club. Open Gate Ministries is looking for people willing to donate $10.00 (or more) a month. Our goal is to reach 10% of Dinuba’s popu- lation of 24,000 in monthly pledges to support our Mission’s endeavour. Total responses goal is 2,400. For each $ 10.00 pledged monthly will count as one response. (Example: $20.00=2 responses; $30.00=3 responses and so on). If you have not yet re- sponded we ask that you would help in this area.
Our response has not turned out what was ex- pected. I feel many want to help but have forgot maybe because of us not being able to send re- minders out in the mail. So please use the follow- ing as a reminder to help support your ministry to the less fortunate. We ask that you use the cut-out to post on your refrigerator or desk as a reminder for your support.
Please join us and help your Neighborhood Mission.
Our supporters have always come through for us in the challenges that we have presented. The chal- lenge is real and huge but so is our God who is “more than able to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory.”
Blessings
Ray Anderson Executive Director
Please send your responses to: Open Gate Ministries, Inc. 511 N. “K” Street. Dinuba, Calif 93618 Please mark on the outside of the envelope $10.00 Club
Yes count me as Individual, Church, or Business (circle one) in on your Missions need and add me on the list of supporters.
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_____
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I pledge $____________per month, counting as _____responses.
(May be sent monthly, quarterly, or annually, as you prefer.)
I/we can’t make a monthly pledge but want to make a one-time gift of $_______.
I already give monthly, I would like my monthly donation of $____________ to count toward the $10.00 Club response.
I would like to keep my monthly giving separate from the $10.00 club.
Name_________________________________________________ Address_______________________________________________ City, State, Zip: _________________________________________
From the Desk and Heart Of Our Operations Manager Gloria Gaona
Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
As you read this article we have all of our 3 family units full with couples and their children, a total of 15 per- sons! Upstairs 4 rooms are occupied with 10 persons, a total of 25 individuals in the home; with lots of them being children! And small children at that!
The volunteer who is helping me with kitchen help this morning (God bless her heart for being so dedicated to the work of the Lord), just called out and said “we need more hamburger buns! We got a big group eating to- day”. Even though she is right — a big group it will be, I
am glad that we are fulfilling the call to do what God has called this ministry to do, to shelter the homeless.
Who are these Families?? Where do they come from?
As I am sitting here, my program worker comes to me with yet another screening, this woman and her 10 year old daughter are sitting at the welfare department with no where to go. After screening, she is approved to come in. I noticed a new lady at the shelter who came in late last night. Another woman comes in and wants to talk about her stay here at the shelter...ok that is taken care of, she will be given an extension be- cause they are doing well and are participants of our savings and budgeting program.
A woman is here and has gone to court fighting a child custody case, she seems lost and depressed because she doesn’t know if this will be the day they take her children away. One lady is here because her children are with CPS, and she gets visitations here at Open Gate 3x week. Due to her progress she will very soon get her children back! Oh, how wonderful that we are a part of this wonderful time in her life when she finally gets her 3 boys back! Another one of our couples last week started working a job at Wal-mart and is working also another part-time job. They are attending a church of their choice. Yes, my friends, we are glad (continued on page 5)
NEEDS FOR OUR SHELTER
Mayonnaise Mustard Ketchup
Pickles
Canned meats Canned fruits Pasta sauce Pastas
Children’s snacks Juices
Cooking oil Detergent
Toilet Paper
Paper Towels Napkins
Kleenex
Shampoos Conditioners
Hair spray
Body lotion Mouthwash
Bath wash/soap Pajamas (all sizes) Bath towels (all sizes)
Twin/Full size sheets
HELP! We are in need of paper grocery bags, to bag our food for our distribution programs. If you'd like to donate bags or money to purchase bags, please call the shelter.
In just the last four years, SaveMart SHARES cards have brought in almost $11,000 to Open Gate Ministries.
Effective April, 2016, the SHARES cards will no longer be needed, but the program will continue. All you need to do is to register your phone number, then give your number as you check out, and Open Gate will continue to benefit from your purchases.
No more need to remember your card!
Welcome to Save Mart Shares powered by eScrip!
Getting started in the NEW* Shares program is easy! Once you sign up, you earn up to 3% of your purchase amount for Open Gate.
It’s as simple as providing your phone number at checkout:
1. Sign up for the NEW* Shares program by registering your phone number with eScrip.
https://secure.escrip.com/signup/index.jsp
2. You will no longer use your S.H.A.R.E.S. card (effective April 1, 2016).
3. Shop at Save Mart Supermarkets and provide your registered phone number at checkout.
(continued from page 3)
that Open Gate Ministries is here to help these families.
These are the faces that we look into every day, who look up to us for help on a daily basis. We cannot solve the problems of the world, but if we can help one family at a time, then so be it.
WHO ARE THESE FAMILIES?
They are families who have very real issues and find themselves lost with no where to go until someone told them that Open Gate Ministries can help. As one of the only shelters in the central valley that helps the “whole family” stay together, we are sought after by many agencies, schools, and programs to help these families.
WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?
They may come from anywhere, from right here in Dinuba to one family from Alabama. They walk through our doors, not knowing what awaits them, but they know that we are here with open hearts, willing and ready to help them.
ON A SPIRITUAL NOTE... We realize that helping them physically and emotionally is one aspect of their problem but we understand more intently that the need for them to find God in their lives is more impor- tant. Everyday my prayer is that the staff and I can find open doors to share with them the saving grace of Jesus. The Lord stated in His word that the “poor we would always have with us.”
Bible Studies at the Shelter
We welcome a young man from a local church (Tomas) who started Bible studies with our residents at the shelter. Every Monday at 7 pm we encourage our residents to sit and enjoy a study of the Word of God. Please pray that the Lord will plant a seed in the hearts of these individuals who attend the study, and pray for Tomas that the Lord will use him mightily.
And others fell on good ground and yielded a crop.... Mat. 12:8a
BIBLE STUDY TEACHERS NEEDED!
If you would like to be a part of planting the seed, through conducting Bible studies at the shelter, please call or drop by the shelter and see me (Gloria).
C H I L D C A R E N E E D E D !
We also are in need of child care during the Monday Bible study ses- sions. If you feel led to do this child care ministry at the shelter, please call the office, (559) 591-1241
FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM
Open Gate Ministries continues to hand out food to the needy; reaching out to those in need in the Dinuba, Cutler, Orosi and surrounding com- munities. We are blessed to receive food from many sources, but the
need is great. We’d like to thank the churches, schools, business, and individuals that have helped to make this food distribution program a success for so many years.
A special “THANK YOU” to all of our volunteers who help so faithfully every food distribution session. I could not do it without you!
DID YOU KNOW ?
That over 600 families every month pick up food at Open Gate
That about 2,000 individuals are fed with this food
That over 1,000 bags of food are handed out every month
That Open Gate Ministries, through the help of MANY LIKE YOU, has been doing this work for over 42 years!!
A Special Thank You!
You are a VERY SPECIAL PART of this ministry
There are many of you who have partnered with us in the work of the Lord at
Open Gate Ministries. We want to say that God is mindful of your Work for the Lord. Thank you so much!Gloria
From the Thrift Store
To our dear supporters and customers:
The Open Gate Thrift Shop had its beginnings in Dinuba in 1983 in a small building on Tulare Street. In 1984, largely through the efforts of Bill Ruppender, the Thrift Shop was moved to its present location at 133 South “L” Street.
We at Open Gate Ministries would like to thank you for continuing to shop at our Thrift Store in downtown Dinuba. It’s customers like you that make our job pleasurable and keep our ministry successful. Please encourage your friends and family to come and visit our Thrift Store often. You will be happy to see the changes we made, and lots of items are available for every need you may have. We have living room furniture, including sofas, recliners, side tables, lamps, bookcases, televisions, entertainment centers, dining tables, and home décor. We have glassware, tools, baby furniture, women's, men's and children's clothing, books and DVDs, antiques, and too many more items to mention.
For the last two years we have had the privilege to receive anawardforbestboutiqueandthriftstoreintheareafrom the readers of the Dinuba Sentinel. Our store is clean and well-organized, and you can often find just the right article of clothing, a cute toy, or a pretty jigsaw puzzle or framed picture. We feature frequent bag sales, “buy one, get one free” sales, and 99-cent sales, in addition to our everyday low prices.
This year’s Soup and Pie Luncheon went without a hitch. Thanks for those who showed up and had a taste of 7 different varieties of soups and over 4 different pies. We had over 150 people who attended the event. Thanks also to our volunteers & sponsors who helped make this years Soup & Pie Luncheon a success. We look forward to more soup and pie luncheons in the future
Calvin Grover
Top: Anybody hungry for some pie? Ummm, Pie!
Bottom: (left to right) Princess: Vanessa Hernandez; Queen 2nd Runner-Up: Chelsie Muro
Come in and meet our wonderful and friendly staff, Bertha, Mar- garita, Elizabeth, Domingo, and our wonderful volunteers. The staff will be happy to serve you. All profits of the store help to support Open Gate Ministries, our shelter, and food distribution programs. Thank you for all your support and prayers. See you soon.
Norma Godinez. Board Member.
Top: All of the Thrift Store staff including, on the far left, our newly hired ware- house manager Domingo Ramos
Bottom: The clothing section of the thrift store
On September 10, 2015, Open Gate held its 41st anniversary dinner. With huge suc- cess over 290 tickets were sold, over 170 actually attended. The entertainment for the night was the Dinuba High School Madrigals and The Martin Family Singers of Clovis (www.martinfamily.com). We would like to thank Dinuba High School Madrigals, The Martin Family, Cutler-Orosi Explorer Scouts, the other many sponsors as well as vol- unteers. Our greatest gratitude goes to the Dinuba Nazarene Church for hosting the Anniversary dinner and the youth group for helping to serve the food.
This photo is used with permission from the site
Open Gate Ministries Newsletter
Volume 16, Issue 1 April, 2016
Editor: Calvin Grover
If you would prefer to receive future news- letters as an email attachment, please send your preferred email address to: ken@opengate- ministries.org
The mission of Open Gate Ministries is to minister to the physical and spiritual needs of persons according to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ through the provi- sion of shelter, sustenance and companionship.
Open Gate is a Christian organization, but it is interde- nominational. Among our regular donors are twenty local Christian congregations of various denominations. The ten members of our Board of Directors are affili- ated with eight different congregations. We serve eve- ryone, without regard to their race, creed, age, sex, or religious affiliation.
Open Gate Ministries, Inc.
511 North ‘K’ Street
Dinuba, California 93618
Open Gate Ministries511 North K Street
Dinuba, California 93618-1933