Warrick County Kids Get Life-Changing Help From New Program

Impact Ministries Steps Up for Warrick County

Last year, I wrote about a new non-profit in Warrick County that stepped up to help several vulnerable populations. Impact Ministries was launched by pastor Bradley Shuck and his wife, Mary, after they moved to the area to pastor Boonville Impact Wesleyan Church.

Warrick County had limited services for addiction recovery, homelessness, food insecurity, and places for people to stay during extreme heat or cold. The Shucks stay busy year-round with their warming and cooling center, free meals, addiction recovery classes, and support for underprivileged populations.

How Impact Cares Started

When associate pastor Ashley Miller joined the church, she, along with her husband Aaron, saw a specific need to help local children and teens. Out of that need, Impact Cares was created.

I asked Ashley about what spearheaded this idea and where she wants to see it go in the future.

My husband Aaron had the idea for this. He grew up as a kid whose family couldn’t afford things like book fairs and field trips. He doesn’t want other kids to feel like that.

 

I have a big heart for kids and teenagers and see some have to miss out which breaks my heart. We were able to raise $1985 for a student to be able to go on band trip to Orlando. Her and her guardian were so thankful and truly blessed by it.

 

School lunch accounts have been a big need so far. We’ve also done school pictures and some holiday shop money for some kids. We hope to help many more. Any Warrick county student can receive help for those things.

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What Impact Cares Provides for Local Students

Impact Cares helps students participate in school and extracurricular activities they might otherwise have to miss because of cost. Support includes:

• Picture money
• Field trip money
• Cap and gown money
• Book fair money
• Lunch money
• Senior pictures (photographers needed)
• Snack days like popcorn and Kona Ice
• School dances
• Sports sign-up fees and equipment
• Santa shops in elementary schools so kids can buy gifts for family

Why This Support Matters

If you have had a kid in school recently, you know how fast these costs add up. This year, my daughter wanted to take a school trip to Washington D.C., but the cost was more than our family vacation, so we opted out. Many families are just trying to make ends meet, and a field trip fee, even the smaller fees for local trips, can be the thing that keeps a child from participating.

A lot of people assume the school covers many of these costs, but schools are already stretching their budgets. When I worked with our PTO, we had to fundraise for lobby furniture, playground equipment, teacher office supplies, and even student laptops! There simply isn't extra funding available for field trips, dances, outstanding lunch balances, or all the other little things kids enjoy.

The Warrick County community has already jumped on board to assist. Impact Cares was launched on November 17th, and within 62 hours, they had already marked off some big milestones, including getting four lunch accounts current, funding for three student photo packages, funding for a band trip to Orlando, and they were even able to get a family vehicle fixed to safely drive.

Need Assistance?

If you are a Warrick County resident and are in need of assistance for something for your child, don't hesitate to reach out. All requests remain confidential. You can contact Impact Cares via phone at (812) 897-4484 or via Facebook.

Want to Help?

Ashley told me that they've already had lots of requests, and the community has shown up in a big way.

We post what donations are needed on our Facebook page almost daily and pray the funds come in. The community has been amazing so far and we’ve been able to help all requests so far. Our biggest hope is that we can help with every single need and request that comes in. The community can help with that by sending donations and even sharing our Facebook page and posts.

There are a TON of ways to help Impact Ministries and Impact Cares. The biggest need they have is moolah! Donating is easy. You can use Venmo, Paypal or take cash or check to the church directly.