Union Mission Ministries

Outreach Ministries: the Mission has been blessed with the opportunity and privilege to distribute food and clothing throughout west Virginia. The warehouse in charlestion is the central point of distribution as the Mission assists more than 20 churches, food pantries, and outreach programs throughout the state. Food resources are also used at the men's shelter and the men's and women's addiction recovery programs. As a result of sharing these reasources, the Mission gains the privilege of sharing the love of god with the hurting. In 2023, the Mission was able to accomplish this distribution from 13 separate sites serving a total of 1,943 families and 7112 individuals. The outreach ministry also responds quickly to provide emergency relief following floods or other disasters. The goods distributed are received by the Mission as gifts-in-kind from businesses, food resource programs, and other ministry programs.

Family services Ministries: family services is committed to meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of families as well as the needs of individuals who are in crisis or at risk of becoming homeless.the family services program assists clients who are in emergency needs of household items, clothing, financial assistance, and counseling. New clothing, almost new clothing, and household items are given to clients through our distribution room. In 2023, the Mission served a total of 7,112 indiviuals and 1,943 families. In addition, thanksgiving and christmas food boxes were distributed to 375 families, the adopt-a-family for christmas program served 83 families with 171 children, and toys for children distributed gifts to 516 children at christmas.

Union Mission men's shelter: the Mission's men's shelter provides service to the homeless and hurting every hour of the day, year-round. It provides an average of 100 meals per day, and it has a maximum lodging capacity of 58. The men who come to the shelter do so knowing their physical needs will be met. The staff and chaplains of the shelter, while meeting these physical needs, also tend to the spiritual needs in a practical way. In 2023, serving approximately 30 separate individuals monthly, a total of 28,757 meals were served and 8,621 overnight lodgings. Emergency shelter is offered as a refuge to men needing temporary housing. Residents receive three hot meals every day, as well as a hot shower, clean clothes and pajamas, fresh toiletries, and a clean bed. The shelter is open throughout the day, and residents are welcome to access the facility whenever they wish. If after a a short initial period, a transient decides to make the shelter his home, he must commit to finding a steady job. Residents are attributed the dignity they deserve as human beings, but they are also kept accountable for the management of their time and money.

Thrift store ministry: the Mission's thrift store accepts donations of new and used items from the general public for resale at market value. All items are placed on the sales floor with a price and a date, and once an item has been on the shelf for longer than 8 weeks, the items are generally discounted or set out for free. Excess clothing is sold in bulk. The proceeds from the store are used to help support the work of the Mission. Men's and women's addiction recovery program: we are a long term, 12 to 15 month, faith-based addiction recovery program where men and women learn how to live a life of complete victory over addiction through a combined approach of biblical counseling, teaching, work therapy, and education. The Union Mission behavioral health center was formed, in part, to assist and support these programs by providing various services centered around addiction recovery.the programs addresses the spirit, body, and mind of the participants as they are immersed in a culture of healing and restoration. The programs revolve around the word of god, exercise, nutrition, vocational training, and job placement. Participants are provided with meals, clothing, personal items, recreational needs, and classroom instruction, as well as recources for vocational advancement through our client services to enable individuals to successfully re-enter the community. In the men's program on average, approximately 15 men are in the program on a monthly basis. During 2023, these men were served 28,757 meals and 8,621 overnight lodgings. In the women's program on average, approximately 12 women are in the program on a monthly basis. During 2023, these women were served 12,506 meals and 4,502 overnight lodgings. The vocational advancement program at the Mission was developed to help participants gain the necessary skills to return to society better equipped to rebuild their lives. There are two parts to the program - education and work experience.