Our mission at PATH is to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless and give financial aid to those in crisis.  We keep scrupulous processes and records (keeping all for a minimum of three years), and take our stewardship very seriously.  We have a food pantry to supply a week’s worth of groceries to qualifying households once a month.  We run our own Thrift Store to supply two complete basic outfits for every household member every two months, if needed.  We give financial aid for extreme needs roughly 3-4 times a year, including utility bills, some rent and mortgage assistance, prescription medications (up to about $50), kerosene, emergency shelter, and various other small qualifying needs. 

We also network with many other agencies to try to triage our clients’ needs and take a longer-term view of possible solutions than our assistance center provides.  We have four area dentists who volunteer their services for PATH clients when we call.  The Catawba Care Center does much for our many HIV positive clients, and Catawba Mental Health allows us to refer those needing counseling.  We work with the York Lions Club to get glasses and optometric care for those who need it.  We now have a Crisis Pregnancy Center branch in Lake Wylie that has graciously offered their services.  The Christian Women’s Job Corps is another wonderful agency.  As I say, we are a crisis center, but we love to work with other service providers that can do even more for our clients.   

York School District #1, which we serve, is a very large district, including York, Sharon, Hickory Grove, Smyrna, and McConnells.  It is not an affluent district, although several groups loyally support us, and our needs are growing daily.  Our present resources are simply not enough to make a difference in the life of every district resident who depends on us to be the first line of contact when they are in crisis. 

We ask anyone reading this to prayerfully consider what they can do for us, and our thanks are as deep as the difference you make in the lives of the poor and hungry (very deep indeed!).  On behalf of all who suffer, I wish you the peace of Christ.