Outreach Center meeting spiritual, physical needs

Since opening Nov. 1, The Church of Helping Hands and Caring Hearts in Benton has been able to serve both the spiritual and physical needs of many in Saline County.

The Church also serves as an outreach center for the community to help feed those in need and provide a place people can get out of the cold for a few hours.

“We have done wonderfully,” said Bonnie Johnson, who created the ministry.

It took over the old Benton Skate Center when it closed and remodeled it.

One of the church partners Johnson has worked with is New Life on Samples Road. She said working with them is like having 10 more churches come along side her.

“They came with their whole heart,” she said.

Currently, the ministry is open four nights a week to feed people and provide for spiritual needs. Johnson hopes one day to have partners help her open each night of the week.

On Mondays, New Life leads the ministry.

Tuesdays, the local organization John 3:16 offers a recovery night for those battling addiction.

Thursday nights is a night for children put on by the Royal Theatre. Johnson said they have featured a Christmas play thus far.

On Sundays, Johnson’s ministry Helping Hands leads.

Along with spiritual ministry and feeding, Johnson works with an organization out of Little Rock to help any homeless find a place to stay in Little Rock. The outreach ministry is unable to allow anyone to stay overnight.

She also offers blankets and toiletries to help meet physical needs.

On average, the ministry has 50 people who attend each night it is open.

She believes the ministry is able to help more people than actually attend. When someone asks, they make up to-go boxes of food for those who attend to take back to their families or friends.

Johnson is looking forward to spring when it will be warm enough to set up activities outside.

For Christmas, they were able to buy gifts for 40 children to ensure they have something to open Christmas morning. The ministry plans to make its Christmas celebration all about the children.

At Thanksgiving, the ministry fed with 209 holiday meals. Of those, 129 were to-go meals.

She is grateful for the 30 faithful volunteers who continue to help make the ministry a success. She said anyone who has done a ministry knows having that many faithful volunteers is a big deal.

Johnson said she has already seen an impact from the ministry. The biggest impact has been giving people hope and joy.

“We offer them hope because we offer them Jesus,” Johnson said.

The ministry welcomes anyone who wishes to donate food.

Johnson is hoping to have groups or churches take the remaining three nights so the ministry can be open seven days a week.

One of the big needs she has is to put in a grease trap so they can cook on site. Until they raise the money to put one in, they are cooking at New Life and bringing the food to the ministry.

The ministry is following health guidelines and practicing social distancing. Johnson said they have enough space they can spread everyone out to keep them safe. Masks are required to attend and hand sanitizer is always available.

Johnson believes the new ministry is already growing and people are being blessed.

Anyone who wants to get involved, make a donation or even host a night can call 501-315-9999.