SEE OUR
LOCAL CHURCH DIRECTORY
INSIDE ... Vol. 26 | Iss. 9 | SEPT 2022
THORN MINISTRIES HELPS FEED LOCAL HOMELESS By Michelle Caceres
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Columns: Grace Notes: Hooked On Books: Faith & Footprints: News From The Wire:
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Riverview resident Anita ‘Mama Thorn’ DeBiase was driving on U.S. Hwy. 301 20 years ago when she heard the Lord’s voice say, “Feed my sheep.” Even though she was caring for Carl, her sick husband, she was determined to follow the prompting. “Even though I was going through a trial in my own life, I needed to help others,” said DeBiase, a German immigrant who was a child during World War II and moved to the United States in 1958. “I know what it’s like to be hungry and have nothing to eat.” When her husband’s nurse told her about Thankfully Helping Others Real Needs (THORN) Ministries, a charity that feeds the homeless For 24 years, THORN Ministries has been serving the local homeless community. in Tampa on Sundays, she decided to get involved by cooking meals in her ily to think about others instead of kitchen and delivering them to Tam- themselves. They made some food, piled into the family van and went pa’s often-overlooked population. “The good book tells us we need to to downtown Tampa, where they fed about 60 homeless people. help one another,” DeBiase said. “The impact it had on my kids was The 84-year-old can’t serve as much as she used to because of amazing,” Taylor said. The service project touched more health issues, but she still helps out by storing the ministry’s mobile food than her children’s hearts. She saw the desperate need within the homepantry in her large yard. THORN Ministries founder Kristin less population and knew they needTaylor credits her ministry’s longev- ed help. That one-time teaching moment turned into a 24-year mission. ity to volunteers like DiBiase. “The volunteers that come and help “God hooked me into this for life,” she and give of their time and resources said. People quickly found out about the is just incredible,” she said. The ministry started when Tay- service she was doing and wanted to lor and her husband, who had four help. Volunteers cook food in their biological children and were foster homes. Others help pass out the food parents to eight more, decided one to the homeless. Even elderly volunThanksgiving to teach her large fam- teers have food dropped off to their
homes so they can prepare the ingredients into delicious meals, which are then picked up for distribution. “Everyone can get involved,” said Taylor. The ministry has grown from feeding 60 homeless people weekly to almost 400. Since she started, she has traded in the family van for a food trailer. Every week, she sees a miracle in the number of food trays that get donated by volunteers. In its 24 years in operation, it’s never run out of food. Leftovers get delivered to needy families in Gibsonton. In addition to a meal, the group passes out hygiene and first aid products. Sometimes, a hairdresser volunteers to cut hair. If a homeless person needs a pair of steel-toed boots or a black T-shirt for work or a pair of sneakers, she said they always seem to secure the required items. “There are really a million ways to get involved,” she said. Taylor once had someone come up to her and tell her that he didn’t have time to volunteer but he did have money and asked how he could be of assistance. She mentioned a few small items that he could donate. He said, “Think bigger.” She mentioned that her vehicle was having mechanical issues. He bought her a new truck. “It’s a miraculous thing that’s happening here,” she said. “The Lord is providing.” To learn more about volunteering or making a donation to THORN Ministries, contact volunteer coordinator Jamie Yonke at 813-205-0745 or visit www.thornministries.net.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR MOBILE HOSPITAL COMING TO TAMPA Liberty and Health Alliance will hold a free mobile hospital and clinic for the community, offering medical, dental and vision care at the Tampa Convention Center from Thursday and Friday, September 15-16. Volunteers and support are needed to help with this Christian-sponsored event, which is being held in a region that the state has identified as an area of critical health need. Please register to attend as a patient or volunteer at https://libertyandhealth.org/. Volunteers are needed from every medical and health care specialty. Doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, physician assistants and medical assistants are needed in the fields of cardiology, dermatology, emergency care, gastroenterology, pediatrics, podiatry, psychiatry, women’s health and many more specialties. Dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants are also needed. Additionally, hundreds of nonmedical volunteers are needed for interpreting, food service, financial and legal counseling, clothing dis-
Staff Report
Photo courtesy of Liberty and Health Alliance.
tribution and other areas of service. Donations of medical supplies and equipment, as well as financial support, are necessary to make this a successful event. Sponsorships are also available. “We’re excited to serve the Tampa Bay area in this way, helping people who are most in need of physical and mental healing,” said Dr. Lela Lewis, president of Liberty and Health Alliance. “We’re
calling on all those interested in volunteering for this event to do so and help make an impact in changing people’s lives. Thank you for your support for those in need.” Dr. Lewis has led similar community mega clinics in other cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Antonio, all of which were reported by major market news outlets. Liberty and Health Alliance is a ministry founded by Seventh-day Adventist Christians that believes humanity has received the gift of life and the offer of whole-person health from God. Under its belief system, since every individual has been endowed by the Creator with liberty of conscience, it rests with the individual to make informed health decisions — through free choice and as a duty to God. People of all backgrounds and faiths are welcome in the journey. The Tampa Convention Center is located at 333 S. Franklin St. in Tampa. For more information, visit https://libertyandhealth.org/.