By Dr. Ferrell Miller
JC Breakfast Optimist Club
Jodi Mason was the guest speaker at the JC Breakfast Optimist Club meeting on January 22 in Jim Clark’s Chevrolet showroom. Jodi grew up south of Abilene, graduated from Chapman High School. Following graduation from college, she became a teacher at Hanover High School, where she taught agricultural classes.
She shared that “every day, countless members of our community face the harsh realities of under-employment, food insecurity, domestic violence, sudden homelessness, mental health struggles, and a lack of resources. These challenges can feel insurmountable when there is the sense of being stuck in a cycle of trying to survive. The Magdalene Project believes that with hard work and someone being there to help a better life is attainable through support, education and empowerment.”
The Project has been in existence for about two years. The mission of the Magdalene Project is to assist our neighbors in securing the basic items needed to live a life of dignity, such as food, clothing, and hygiene items, and to aid them in transitioning to a better life by obtaining health and mental health care, life skills training, employment, VA resources, permanent housing, addiction therapy and advocacy.
Ways those in need are served are through Sunday weekly community dinners held at the Knights of Columbus Hall, a mobile outreach trailer, case management, advocacy and social services, free veterinary clinics with KSU Veterinary Medicine, providing a warming shelter, the Annual Health Fair in Heritage Park collaboration with social services partners and special events.
Jodi told the Optimist Club members that “we want to do what we can to give people hope.” The Magdalene Project gets funding through grants, group donations, church and individual donations. Volunteers are needed especially during the times when a warming shelter is put in place and in assisting with Sunday meals.
For more information contact Jodi Mason at [email protected], visit the Magdalene Project website or Facebook page.