Faith Mission asking for help

By Staff
Jonathan Willis FCT Staff Writer
With the passing of the holiday season, Faith Mission Outreach now needs help from the community, just as they have been helping others throughout the area.
Over the past month, FMO has spent more than $4500 providing food, clothing and Christmas gifts for local families in need. To be able to continue that giving, the mission will need help from the community.
With so many families spending what little money they had for Christmas, coupled with rising utility costs due to low temperatures, the mission is in need of several items.
One big concern lurking over the mission is an expected high utility bill. With last December's bill rising to more than $900, Mangino said that they expect at least that much this year.
If the winter months are as cold as predicted, the outreach will need more warm blankets and electric heaters to help get families through the frigid weather. Mangino also said that the mission is in need of a commercial box truck to use to carry groceries and furniture.
Also, with the addition of a shelter expected to take place within the next few months, Mangino said that FMO is in desperate need of more volunteers. The shelter will be located on Coffee Street, just a few blocks behind the current mission.
The shelter will provide food and lodging for families up to 30 days, as long as those that are unemployed are searching for work during that time.
The new shelter could become the largest in north Alabama, and with that, will require an outpouring of support from the community, such as the support that has been shown in the mission's two-year existence.