Letter to The Editor 1/9/20

Clay County residents:

We all have so much to be thankful for. We, here at Mercy, are counting our blessings for the many supporters, donors and volunteers who selfishly help Mercy accomplish its mission, seeing God move in the lives of our clients throughout the past year.
With 12.6% of Clay County’s population falling below the poverty level – or one in eight people you may meet living in need of basic necessities – our mission has been to address these needs at the very source. It is because of your support that Mercy can help prevent the person or family from falling on the downward spiral of poverty and help set them on the road to self-sufficiency. Last year we received more than 2,400 call in our Call Center, helping more than 5,500 people in Clay County. In 2019 alone, more than 28 families avoided homelessness through our Self-Sufficiency, Eviction Prevention and Rapid Rehousing programs.
In addition to meeting the growing needs in Clay County, Mercy’s goal for 2020 includes the expansion of our services in order to present homelessness – strategically addressing more issues in their initial stages, with incoming cases in our call center and outreach events.
Mercy is funded and supported primarily by the generosity of our private donors, churches and private foundations. As you plan your end-of-year funding, would you consider locking arms with us in this worthwhile mission to prevent and end homelessness in Clay County? Any size gift can make such a difference in our daily and monthly programs. You may go to our website www.mercysupportservices.org and learn more about the ways you can give, and make a single or reoccurring Guardian Partner donation. If so, please make sure you add 2020 in the comments to let us know you are locking arms with us in praying and believing for great accomplishments in the coming year.
We hope last year came to a close for all of us with a sense of gratitude and contentment. Let us start the new year with a sense of accomplishment for the coming year and all that God still wants to show us in our life, and throughout or life as we impact others for good and His glory.
May God bless you and your family.

R. Patrick Hayle
Executive Director/CEO