BUILDING DONATION TO BE MENTORING CENTER

SIKESTON -- Gifts come in all sizes but the two Mission Missouri were given have left board members flabbergasted.

The organization has received news that it is the recipient of a building and an adjacent vacant lot.

The donors wish to remain anonymous.

And Mission Missouri knows exactly what it will do with their new presents. The location, 509 Ruth, will be the home of the Mission Missouri Mentoring Center which will benefit countless individuals.

Although mentoring has been going on at the Soup Kitchen for the past year, a lack of room and time have prevented the program from getting very far.

Now, say Mission Missouri members, the sky's the limit. Remodeling the building will be funded with $55,000 in Missouri tax credit coupons, that when sold will leave Mission Missouri with a total of $110,000 in remodeling money.

Every day volunteers at the Soup Kitchen see individuals who are struggling to get over the hurdles they face in life and all too often it's a never-ending cycle.

Transportation problems, not knowing how to get their feet in the door for a job, knowing what to say in an interview, all these factors often contribute to a person being without a job.

Once the Mentoring Center opens the first week of October, Mission Missouri will team up with various agencies including Division of Family Services, Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce, General Equivalency Degree program and Sikeston Area Higher Education Center to coordinate what the individuals will need to make a life change, whether it is to have a better lifestyle, a better job or to learn a new level of self efficiency.

Job training will be a big part of the program, something Jim Schwaninger, executive director of the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to hear.

There is a definite need for such a center, he said.

"As of May, the unemployment rates in Scott and New Madrid counties are down 4.3 percent and it's even lower in Cape Girardeau County which means the available labor force is pretty well being used. If we want to see Sikeston grow and new businesses come to town what we're going to need is a good labor supply.

"This is going to help people get ready and the Chamber of Commerce looks forward to working with Mission Missouri and other agencies. We identified some people who wanted to work but really didn't know how to do it. For some people, there are some barriers standing in their way. A mother might need to have a car seat to put her baby in to take her to the sitter so she can go to work but she might not have the $40 to buy a car seat.

"This Center will guide them through the process, smile and tell them they're doing the right thing. We want to find out what gets in the way of their going to work," Schwaninger said.

Faith ministering is yet another aspect of the Center.

Churches will network to help the individuals and training will be conducted at local churches for members to become faith-based ministering teams who will offer support and talents to help the individuals achieve their goals.

Incorporated into the Mentoring Center will be a homeless shelter which will provide food and shelter for those who need it. Currently the only local one is DAEOC's homeless shelter which assists only women with children. Although plans for the facility are still in the making, it, too will open the first week of October and will serve breakfast, lunch and a snack for the evening meal.