Lincoln Mission Mart Opens New Location and Launches New Programs

[May 29, 2014]  LINCOLN - Home Sweet Home Ministries will be celebrating the grand opening of its new Lincoln Mission Mart location on Friday, May 30th starting with a ribbon cutting and dedication at 8:00 a.m. The new store will be located at 119 N. Sangamon St in Lincoln. But a new store location is not the only change that Home Sweet Home Ministries hopes to bring Lincoln and Logan County. The organization will also launch a new employment training program called Jobs for Life as part of its expanded outreach work with the community.

“Home Sweet Home has been part of Lincoln for 20 years via our Mission Mart store. We have been helping meet the needs of our Lincoln neighbors with clothing during emergencies as well as Thanksgiving meals in partnership with local churches. We see the tremendous assets this community has to fight homelessness and poverty.” explains Matt Burgess Chief Operating Officer for Home Sweet Home Ministries. “When we were considering broadening our programs in Lincoln and Logan County the first thing we asked was ‘what else does Lincoln need?’ We met with community stakeholders and they talked about jobs. So that is why we decided to focus our first service expansion area on that,” adds Burgess.

The Jobs for Life program provides a unique training opportunity for employment seekers because of its emphasis on partnership with local employers who are invited to be part of the skills development classes. Employers also agree to provide program graduates with interview experience. Participants partner with a “champion” who mentors them during the training program.

Home Sweet Home Ministries has shown its commitment to the community by purchasing the building that the new Lincoln Mission Mart will occupy. Moving forward the building will serve as the hub for programs in Lincoln and Logan County as well as a location for its HSHRenew recycling services.

Home Sweet Home Ministries is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nondenominational Christian organization serving homeless and low income individuals and families in the Bloomington Normal area through a variety of programs. Home Sweet Home operates the Mission Mart Thrift Stores in Bloomington and Lincoln Illinois. Home Sweet Home provides numerous services 24 hours daily, 365 days a year and has been since 1917. Visit www.hshministries.org  for more information.

[Text received; MATT DRAT, HOME SWEET HOME MINISTRIES]