It's August in Alabama.....Jerry says we'll see 90-degree temperatures most of the week.
Odd time to celebrate Christmas, don't ya think?
But, that's what the folks at Birmingham's Jimmie Hale Mission are doing. It’s sort of a cool idea during the heat of summer.
Christmas is four months away... here in August, the heat and humidity combine to bring us what we pretty much expect this time of year. Do you even want to think about the rush of the Christmas season?
"Well certainly Mike, as you know at the Jimmie Hale Mission, we try to have the Christmas spirit year round," said Tony Cooper, executive director of the Jimmie Hale Mission.
Here's the deal... with all non-profit agencies, there is a slow time of year for fund-raising. That slow time of year is about now.
"Homelessness and poverty are not seasonal issues,” Cooper said. “They don't take a vacation so we just kind of do this as an emphasis to the community to say, ‘Hey we're here year-round, and we need your help year round to sharing the Christmas message with those who come to the Jimmie Hale Mission.’"
And, in a rapidly changing world, there is consistency here. Since the mission work began in 1944, why they're here and what they do remains the same.
"Our mission statement you know is to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of the poor and hurting in Jesus’ name and for over 65 years now our message and our mission has not changed and it never will," Cooper said.
The men who come here, and the women and children who come to Jessie’s Place or one of the other ministries of the mission know the Jimmie Hale Mission is a safe and clean place, where they can find food for the body and for the soul. Adult education programs help them get back on their feet and back to being productive, self-supporting citizens.
With a tough economy, many might say, “This is isn't a good time for me to try to give,” but you ought to know this:
"Well, the main thing about Christmas in August is you can sponsor a meal for $1.95 and most people have $1.95,” Cooper said. “So you can give online, secure donation page online, or you can give by phone or they can call us or go online and get our mailing address because this is just the beginning of August and we're going to be celebrating Christmas in August all month long.
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