MARTINSVILLE, Ind. (WTHR) - Manna Mission has delivered hundreds of thousands of meals to the community, provided uncounted nights of lodging and tons of clothing since 1980. Now the shoe is on the other foot, and the Mission needs help.
"The dog days of summer," founding pastor Tom Tacket explained. "During the months of June, July and August are the lowest months of giving for outreach."
Utilities for a 20,000 square foot building are not cheap. Manna Mission needs around $1,900 just to keep the lights on.
"The utilities are not as high as they can be, but again the income drops down to almost nothing during these months," he continued.
Progress in downtown Martinsville has Manna Mission looking for a new, smaller facility, which means it is also looking to scale back some services - but not the mission.
"We are hope dealers here. My son wears a t-shirt that says, 'Not a dope dealer any longer but a hope dealer'," Tackett said.
- RELATED: GoFundMe page for Manna Mission
Drug addiction, homelessness, and mental illness all congregate here for rescue, relationship, recovery and restoration.
"Some of the people who come through here, the real churches don't want them in their congregation. Sad but true. Many of our supporters have been through what our patrons are going through and want to do something to help because they know what it is about," Tackett added.
Manna Mission hopes to raise the funds needed by Tuesday night so they electricity will remain on Wednesday, but even if it does go dark, it will not extinguish the mission.