In December, Cherry Street’s long time employee, Brenda Torres retired. Brenda has been a part of Cherry Street since June of 1997, through 4 CEOs, buildings bought and sold, but always the mission of the ministry at the heart of everything she did.

As a staff member, Brenda has always been highly esteemed. She has been awarded Cherry Street’s version of employee of the year called The Animal Award. Brenda was also given an award for being a Wall Builder based on the scripture from Nehemiah 4:6.

Brenda has filled many roles as the needs of the ministry has changed. Most recently she was on the volunteer team, shepherding many people. Brenda always spoke with guests and was an encouragement to all.

Brenda has been a great asset to Cherry Street for all of us for many years. As she has cared for the army of volunteers that come through our doors and has connected them to just the right serving area, she has made the Good News of the gospel evident to them all. Her steadfast loyalty to the mission of serving ALL people has been a guiding light for many of us that have worked beside her. She will be greatly missed and yet we celebrate her as she moves to a new stage in her incredible life. – Ann Ebbert, President

Brenda is a prayer warrior. Regardless if you’re family, a friend or a complete stranger, Brenda will stop whatever she’s doing to pray with you.

Some of our volunteers that have gone through some hardships knew they had Brenda to turn to for prayer and wisdom. I’ve seen her be a witness and a friend to many. She truly brought a light to Cherry Street where people needed to see Jesus. I’m glad to have Brenda as a friend. – Susan Graalman, Volunteer Recruitment Manager

Brenda truly embodies what Cherry Street was founded on: a love of God, that is manifested in the way we care for the least in our society. Simply put, she is just a caring, loving woman who serves God, loves people, and has always been supportive. Cherry Street will not be the same without her. – Jim Stansbury, long time volunteer

No one preached a sermon, no one prayed for the sick, and no one prayed for salvation – at the same time ALL that happened because God’s love was loud! Through a smile, and the phrase “pick a coat.”

The winter gear give away was made possible through donations from the public. In one day, Cherry Street handed out over 200 coats and other winter gear. Another 90 coats have been handed out thereafter.

Sound panels have been installed in the Mac Street Café. Thus far they have made an enormous difference in the sound reverberation in the Café. This project will definitely bring redemption to the Café space and as a result to the lives of our guests as they utilize the Café.

The showers in the men’s building have been refreshed. The walls used to just be block walls, which were covered with “FRP” board because it is easier to clean and is 100% mold resistant. We also repaired the exhaust system for the bathroom, a dorm, and basement as a part of this project.

In short, volunteers are needed. We can’t provide basic needs without volunteers. During this time where every media outlet is putting new information out to the public every hour, and while we are focused on COVID-19, this is just any other day for Cherry Street. We have made it through the HIV scare in the 80s, the Hepatitis A outbreak 2 years ago and we will handle this COVID-19 pandemic similarly. It’s just a Friday for us. We must remember that we are an essential ministry who cares for medically fragile people every hour of every day.

If you have questions, please call me or email me. Anyone on our staff will be happy to talk to you or show you what is being done to address the needs of the community.

As media coverage of the COVID-19 increases, Cherry Street continues to take steps to help ensure the health and safety of our community. Disease management, safety protocols and risk mitigation are a part of the everyday at Cherry Street. Those experiencing homelessness or living in poverty are the most vulnerable in our communities. Cherry Street is diligently protecting those served in our facilities with care and dignity.

Cherry Street’s staff are exceptional and already utilize healthy practices for preventing the spread of disease and viruses. Led by the facilities team, Cherry Street is using strategies that have proven useful and are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control. This includes the frequent disinfection of hard surfaces and high traffic areas. Additionally, we always have multiple hand sanitizing stations, tissues, hand soap, and face masks.

Poverty and homelessness carries its own kind of stigma and ostracization. Fear and ignorance of catching COVID-19 from those at Cherry Street further the stigma. Stigmatized groups may be subjected to:

Social avoidance or rejection
Denials of healthcare, education, housing or employment
Physical violence.
Stigma affects the emotional or mental health of stigmatized groups and the communities they live in. Stopping stigma is important to making communities and community members resilient (CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/homeless-shelters/plan-prepare-respond.html)

During this time, volunteers are needed. In our food service opportunities to use gloves and other sanitation protocols are adhered to. It is crucial the care and provision to those served at Cherry Street continues uninterrupted as it has since 1947. During this time, volunteer opportunities will primarily focus on basic services. This includes services that allow us to meet the essential needs of our guests such as providing meals and emergency shelter.

Our goal is to minimize the potential spread of all infectious diseases and to protect our staff, guests, volunteers, and ministry partners. The safety of all is very important to us. Cherry Street will continue to monitor the situation and respond accordingly. We’re taking all precautionary measures, but we still continue to go out every day to love and care for our neighbors. Our shelter remain open for meals and emergency shelter. Please pray for our teams, and for the individuals that we serve.

Founded in 1947, Cherry Street Mission Ministries provides basic needs, housing solutions, and opportunities for transformation and redemption through plan development. Cherry Street is privately funded and does not receive government funding.

1 Thessalonians 4:2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus

A total stranger brought Lisa to Cherry Street Mission Ministries. In the six months prior to Lisa arriving at our doors her mother died, her sister died, her brother died, she was kicked out by her other sister on Christmas day, and was unwelcomed by her son-in-law. She traveled nearly 2,000 miles trying to find refuge at Cherry Street.

When Lisa arrived she was physically and mentally fatigued. It took her 24 hours just to get herself feeling like she had a chance. From the first day to her second day everyone noticed the difference. An advocate, Susan said, “I couldn’t believe the way she looked from the day she arrived to the next day. I saw a huge difference.”

isa had been a person of faith all her life but during these trials she had been enduring she really had lost touch. Lisa explained, “I believe the events of the last 6 months has been God trying to get my attention ‘hey you need to do something different with your life’”.

It took Cherry Street and other people of faith helping Lisa realize her real truth. “I felt like it was the devil on my back not letting me get a job, telling me I was worthless”, said Lisa. “I didn’t have people in my life who were for me. I was looking for direction”.

Her brother’s death brought Lisa to Toledo to attend his funeral. Devastated by the thought that her brother died alone, she visited his empty house. The next door neighbor allowed her to stay one night in her brother’s house. It was that neighbor who did more for her than anybody else in recent memory by feeding her that night, giving her a place to sleep, and then bringing her to Cherry Street the next morning.

“Not knowing what I was going to do. That was the hardest part. Where was I going to stay? How was I going to eat? Where was I going to get clothes?” said Lisa.

Hungry for direction, Lisa is doing the work she needs to do for a better life. Advocates saw the work Lisa was doing and reminded her that her time at Cherry Street was going to be brief because she was putting in the effort to move forward. In collaboration with Renhill Temporary Staffing, Lisa found a job within a week. Lisa was attending peer-to-peer mentoring and support group. “I never had support. The last 6 months I felt like nobody was on my side but these people here are definitely on people’s side trying to get them to do something to move forward with their lives”, Lisa said.

With a smile on her face, Lisa said, “I’ve just been connected with so many really good people here that really have huge hearts and love the Lord and they’re doing His work. I just needed to have somebody reaffirm it to me to believe again. Like I said in one day the difference in my demeanor and everything my attitude and everything’s changed. One day.”

As a monthly or frequent donor, we call you a Pillar of Hope. Each faithful gift demonstrates your agreement in Feeding Futures. You make change possible by investing each month in the lives of those living in poverty. Investment from people like you makes it possible for trust and consistency to be built in the lives of your brothers and sisters who are Hungry For Change.