A Story of How LoveINC Provides Community to Promote Economic Resilience

By Stuart Smith & Travis Jones

I had a crisis come up not too long ago. I’m an introvert, & I care for my six year old and keep to myself. So, when I had a crisis and needed help I called every organization that was recommended to me in hopes of finding help. Love INC was my last hope.

Love INC reached out to me & I spoke with a woman by the name of Robin. She said she would reach out to some churches in the community and see if anyone was able and willing to help my son and I move. She did & was able to organize everything with a church just blocks away from where we happened to be moving too.

The church members that showed up went above and beyond. We were able to move all our things that afternoon. Everyone was kind, no one asked me intrusive questions about the situation and I was just in awe.

I really was shocked and extremely thankful for all the support I received with the move, but it didn’t end there. Robin has called to see how we’re doing, and for our first three nights in our new home, different members of the church provided my son and I with a hot dinner!

People that were total strangers went above and beyond to help my son and I. The kindness and care they shared with us took a stressful situation and turned it into something I can’t even find the right words for.

I just know I was in a pretty serious crisis and they came in, and went above and beyond. I can’t express how incredibly grateful I am. I felt like a blanket of peace has been covering my son and I ever since.

The Connection Center is the beginning of community.

The ministry model Love INC began is a call center called the Connection Center. This call center is the heart of the Love INC operations, connecting neighbors in need to resources in the church. We receive hundreds of calls for support each month and our volunteer team coordinates the intake process and connects the neighbors to churches who can help.

But there is a twist. We view the request as an open door to develop a relationship and build our community. We have seen countless individuals call for items to assist their financial situation only to recognize that they also need to talk through their situation with someone who genuinely cares about their circumstances. One particular call came in from a distraught woman requesting furniture and household items from us. After actively listening to her, we recognized that she had more needs than what she called in for, and we were able to connect her to our church partners to put a hedge of safe community members around her.

Introduction of gap ministries & services widens community

After someone has had their first introduction to community through our Connection Center, the support they go on to receive from the local churches is where their community support widens, helping them to become more financially resilient.

In the previously mentioned story of Jessica, the support she received from our partner church was where her connection to the community was widened. Before, she was relatively isolated with her son. This left her in a tough spot when she had a sudden move. It was through this challenge she faced that they were able to find support from a community to help her move, and she has now become part of their community where she is supported and cared for. And this support will help her to be more resilient with challenges she may face in the future, knowing that she has a community of people to support her.