Heavenly Hope Working With Ambulance District To Offer Outreach

After Jill Beckermann of the Heavenly Hope organization spoke to the Ste. Genevieve County Ambulance Board about the number of homeless people in Ste. Genevieve and the group’s work in helping them, the board agreed to carry cards for the organization in each ambulance.

Beckermann said Heavenly Hope has had official non-profit status since April.

“Really, our mission is just about bringing hope to everybody, in every situation,” she said, “teaching them life skills, teaching them to break that current victim circumstance.”

The group has a mobile soup kitchen somewhere in the county every Thursday. This includes not only food, but clothing, toiletries and more.

“It’s been very eye-opening,” Beckermann said. “We knew there was a lot of poverty in Ste. Gen. County; I don’t think you actually realize how much until you actually get out into the county.”

The group also helps the elderly, taking them shopping and to doctor’s appointments, “whatever they need.”

“Sometimes they just need to talk, so they call us,” Beckermann said.

Part of the reason for her approaching the board was to establish a connection with families or individuals who have suffered a cataclysmic event.

“We want to be an advocate for anyone in need,” Beckermann said. “So if they’ve lost their home or clothing or any belongings, we want to be that organization that you come to.”

She said all funds collected are used in the county.

She said the mix of serving elderly and helping families “is about 50-50,” in answer to a board member’s question.

See complete story in the December 25 edition of the Herald.