The Reelfoot Rural Ministries mission statement begins with the thought expressed by St. John as "in Christian love." All that we do at Reelfoot Rural Ministries, on behalf of all those who support this ministry, is out of love. For 44 years, Reelfoot Rural Ministries in northwest Tennessee has been discovering ways to love and encourage those who struggle in life. Today, we have thirteen different avenues that reach people directly, two that help indirectly through work camps, and one under development, our dental clinic program. This makes a total of sixteen programs. When the ministry started there was only one program, a children's Sunday School Class led by two wonderful United Methodist ladies. After four decades, love has maintained Reelfoot Rural Ministries in faithful discipleship. Saint Hilary of Arles (401-449 A.D.) said it well, "Love sustains all those who try to put God's commandments into practice."
Reelfoot Rural Ministries, Inc.
16 Various Ministries
Children’s Services
1. Tenne Butler Day Care
The Day Care teachers care for children from birth through four years old. With age level lesson plans, they educate the children and teach basic social and moral skills. Through the Even Start Program, parents (with children from birth through two years old) are required to be in the work force or in school before children are enrolled.
2. Day Care Meals & Snack
Two meals and one snack are given daily. Parents are surprised at the quality of meals given to their children.
3. After-School Care
Due to lack of space and supervision, we have to limit the number of children in our after-school program. This ministry would grow immensely if we were able to add another building and we had additional funds to pay for supervision. Many times the children in this program are graduates of our day care program.
4. Children’s School Supplies
Working from a school classroom supply list, RRM gives parents the school supplies their child needs. Every year, RRM serves approximately 1,500 children and that number is increasing annually.
5. Christmas Toy Store
“Without the toy store, the children would not have a very good Christmas. I thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart.”—Alice. This is a common response from parents. In 2007, we helped over 700 families, which meant 1633 children experienced Christmas. The cost for a parent is $2.00 for five toys per child but no more than $10 a family.
6. Lake County “Imagination Library” Sponsorship
Currently, over 200 children are signed up in Lake County for the Imagination Library. This is a program sponsored by the Dolly Parton Foundation and Tennessee for children ages birth through four years old. Parents comment how their children cannot wait to receive their book every month.
Senior Services
7. Senior Center
Presently, 55 are enrolled, and on any given day, they are present for fun, games, speakers and the noon meal. One senior said, “I love my RRM family. I don’t know what I would do without them.” --Peggy
8. Senior Transportation
This transportation is provided for seniors who are in our program and unable to drive or have no way to get to our Senior facility. Staff picks up and returns the seniors in our RRM van. When a special event or trip occurs, RRM provides needed transportation for all seniors as requested.
9. Senior Meals
RRM provides a balanced meal daily, Monday through Friday. For some seniors, it is the only nourishing meal they receive in any given day.
10. Homebound Meal Delivery
At the moment, 21 shut-ins receive a daily meal Monday through Friday.
Community Services
11. Food Distribution Center
Over 120 boxes of food are given monthly. The numbers reach well over 1,400 boxes each year which means helping thousands of adults and children. Some months, 150 boxes and more are given.
12. Emergency Services
Assistance is given for loss of home contents due to fire, tornado, or flood.
13. Thrift Store
Hundreds shop weekly in the Thrift Store. The store is only open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 A.M. to 4:30 PM.
14. Dental Clinic
With a Dental Board established, RRM opened the clinic in April 2007 with twice a month services. A volunteer Professional Dentist provides the services.
Volunteer Services
15. Work Camps
With work camp volunteers, home repairs take place within a 20-mile radius for the physically handicapped, low and very-low income level households, and other destitute situations. Work Camps extend from two-day to a week session with room and board at the RRM facilities.
16. One-Day Work Projects
Church and youth groups come from west Tennessee or west Kentucky for a one-day project either for the community or RRM facilities. This opportunity gives the volunteers a connection to the ministry with time to return home, all in one day.
In Christian love, we seek to provide personal encouragement, material assistance, helpful training and spiritual guidance to children, the elderly, and low-income families in rural Northwest Tennessee and Southwest Kentucky, in a manner that enhances self-esteem and encourages self-support.
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