(Food-Beverage-News.Com, February 13, 2013 ) Dothan, AL -- Since 1904, The Wesley House has served as a mission for Meridian, Mississippi residents and has now grown to serve 13 counties in both Mississippi and Alabama. The Wesley House began when Mrs. J.R. Whittaker of the Central Methodist Church felt a calling to minister to the wives of men working in the cotton mills. As the years went on, The Wesley House grew from just a few ladies in a small building to an operation with 10 full-time staff members, four part-time staff members and hundreds of trained volunteers.
The mission of The Wesley House is not only to assist those in need but also to provide them with positive lifelong lessons. The Wesley House believes it is better to teach those in need and give them the tools that are necessary to prevent reoccurrences of poverty and abuse.
The Wesley House has six different agencies that assist residents. The Education Agency offers Wesley Wonders Pre-School with a fee of $85.00 per week. Other services offered within the Education Agency at The Wesley House are Adult Basic Education (GED), Computer Labs, Elementary Tutoring, Public Awareness, and Child Abuse Prevention.
The Health Agency at The Wesley House offers Bi-Annual Eye Exams, Free Medicine, GYN Examinations, Disability Assistance Program, Medical Referrals, Free Lab Work, Pediatric Exams, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, In-House Fitness and a Pharmaceutical Program that assist patients with chronic illnesses.
The Community Agency inherited the Christmas Clearing House with its sole purpose to avoid duplication of Christmas requests from the community. In addition to the Clearing House, the Community Agency offers Scouting Programs (Boys & Girls), The Community Closet, Food Pantry, Conference Rooms, and a Twelve-week Parenting Course.
The Wesley House also has a Victim Services Agency that provides a 24-hour crisis line. The East Mississippi Sexual Assault Center lines are answered by trained professional staff Monday through Friday from 9:00a.m to 6:00p.m and by an answering service afterhours. Any voicemails left afterhours are sent into a rotating list of staff to assist in returning all calls. Assistance may be obtained by calling 601-482-2828 for the Crisis Line. Therapy Groups for Homicide Survivors, Sexual Assault Survivors, Anger Management for Adults and Anger Management for Children/Youth are also offered at the Victim Services Agency during the week.
The Christian Relief Agency offers emergency assistance with food, clothing, medication, utility bills, furniture and much more. Also offered within the Christian Relief Agency are Individual Case Work and Management, a Twelve-week Course of Life Skills, Vocational Assessment and Fishes and Loaves Ministry.
The Connectional Agency offers programs like the Fine Arts After-School Program, Team Mediation, Volunteer Mentoring Program, Kid’s Manna, The Wesley Hour and Wesley Belles and Da Capo Singing Ambassadors.
The Wesley House relies on donations to restore and rebuild broken lives. Every 4 out of 5 dollars donated to the Wesley House go directly to the community and the people who are in need of assistance.
Donation information or other information concerning the Wesley House Community Center and the programs described above can be obtained by calling (601) 485-4736 or visiting their website at wesleyhousemeridian.org.
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