Need—has many faces. In spite of the changing faces of need, the Good Shepherd Mission in Walker County has made great efforts to meet those needs wherever they appear.
The mission itself is truly the offspring of the Huntsville community. Back during the early 1980s, a group of local citizens recognized a growing problem within the community. One of those concerned was a man known simply as Rev. Powell. “He went around to stores and would get day-old bread and milk that was about to expire,” said Dave Smith, executive director. “He’d pass out these items to people in dire need.” Through those humble efforts, others in the community soon began to pitch in.
Today, an average of more than 2,100 meals are served on a monthly basis. These hot meals are free of charge, providing a hot lunch and dinner. All are welcomed. The fully functional commercial kitchen will soon serve as a Culinary Arts Center that is sure to uplift and empower many for years to come. Staffing this kitchen is Merry Phillips.
According to the mission, 1 in 5 within the Walker County community will come to the mission at some point in need of services. “We currently provide meals, lodging, clothing, antibiotics, necessary household items, and furniture, as well as counseling,” Smith said.
Over the years, the changes within the community have been reflected in the mission as well. “Today, we see many more special needs than we’ve ever seen before. Many of those needing services are the elderly and those with mental illness,” Smith said. “We still have those who suffer from different forms of addiction, but that’s only a fraction compared to the poor and marginalized.” Smith believes that people treated as insignificant or peripheral are the results of failed systems within society. “We are starting to see hundreds misdiagnosed or suffering from delayed diagnosis of medical conditions. A lot of this has occurred because of insurance companies or those who don’t fit neatly into some sort of category. Everybody can’t be a superstar athlete or entertainer.”
“Different departments within the university have helped us in health matters like offering physical therapy to stroke victims who otherwise could not afford it,” Smith explains. “They’ve also been vital in offering classes on nutrition, counseling, and other social studies.”
Perhaps one of the most vital areas the university has helped the mission is in the growth of food. “We grow a lot of our own vegetables,” Smith recalls. “We’ve had many students volunteer in our raised garden, as well as helping us to become more proficient in growing a variety of fruits and vegetables. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has been instrumental in helping with various types of fundraisers.”
Through the teaching of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd Mission gets the most out of its meager budget of around $300,000 per year. Serving the Walker County area along I-45 as well as east and west can, at times, seem like a massive undertaking. Individuals using the mission come from a variety of life-changing circumstances. Yet, for many in this nation, it seems beyond understanding. Even with extreme needs, those caught in the grips of circumstance can still find a way up and a way out. Even with more complicated social dynamics at play, those within our community have always answered the call for help.
One can look at the brokenness in the world, yet take heart that what may seem like a sea of despair offers islands of hope. “I was really in bad shape when I arrived in Huntsville. I had lost my job, home, and my truck. My family seemed to be an eternity away. All my roads were closed,” said one former Good Shepherd resident. “This place helped me find a new start. People before looked at me like I was some type of bad luck accident waiting to happen to them. All I really needed was a hand. I got that here. I don’t know why it was my lot in life to be in Walker County. But, I’m glad I met the folks at the mission who were on a mission to help seek and save a lost soul like myself.”
The Good Shepherd Mission
1005 Martin Luther King Dr.
Huntsville, TX 77320
(936) 291-8156
www.thegsmission.org