Beech Tree News Network

On Saturday, July 22, several people came together at Butler County Middle School for a benefit for the Morgantown Mission Helping Hands fund, raising $3,681.  Organizer Janesa Webster said, “During our spring revival at Richland, I felt God calling me to do a community outreach project in our county. There are missionaries all over the world, but we can all do mission work here in Butler County.  After praying about it and learning about the homeless population here, I decided to plan a benefit for the Helping Hands fund.”  The Helping Hands Fund is used by the Mission to help homeless people and is funded by the Thrift Store and donations. The benefit included music by Richland Baptist Church Praise Band, Morgantown Community Church Praise Band, and the Browns.

Garry McKinney, Director of the Morgantown Mission, said, “It was wonderful! I’m glad we raised money, but I’m more thankful that we raised awareness.  Homelessness in Butler County is not a new problem, but it is a growing problem. It is more common than you would think.” The Mission helped around 80 homeless people in 2016, and they have already surpassed that number in 2017.  According to McKinney, “We have families living in tents at the river in Woodbury and Rochester. We have people in Butler County who are alone, hungry, and hurting.  We have a great work to do.” McKinney said he would love to talk to groups and to churches about how they can help.

Webster said, “I am ecstatic about the amount of support we received and the money that was raised for the Mission. I can’t wait to start planning for next year’s fundraiser. Hopefully, this raised awareness to the great need we have in our county.”