Clothing/Thrift/Emergency Services
Both Melissa and Ramon are from working parent families. With God in the middle of their blended family, they think it's important to show their four children, ages 5 to 13, that life is not just all about us. It’s about helping others. In a "Me First" culture, the Alvarezes are making a difference in the lives of people in need. How? By organizing others to share in the blessings God has given them.
The Alvarezes run the Share Ministry at the Rock Church in San Diego. They emphasize that Share is not a charity. Its purpose is to lift people up and to share God's love.
Melissa first came up with the idea to do something. For three years she ran the portion of the church’s annual Christmas toy drive outreach which blesses hundreds of families in a poorer neighborhood of San Diego with toiletries, food and clothing. She saw firsthand how helping with these basic things was just what people needed to get back on track.
Share Ministry’s 1,500-square-foot warehouse stores donated men's, women's, and baby clothing and shoes; appliances; and furniture. The goal is to partner with other ministries, such as foster youth, people in jail or prison and their families, the homeless, single-parent families, and others. Not only that, Ramon and Melissa want to use the ministry to connect with the community. Share Ministry recently held a back-to-school “boutique” at a local school, where they outfitted needy students with clothing and backpacks to help them succeed.
If you’re interested in starting a clothing and thrift ministry or one that provides emergency services for people in need, check out specific “how-to” information here. Then go out and DO Something!