Volunteer

I AM LOVE INC

A volunteers point of view

Read Cindy's story:

In December 2020 my family and I were exposed to Covid. My husband tested positive and my sons and I were negative. With my boys and I in quarantine for two weeks and my husband in self isolation it was pretty tough. I hadn’t gone grocery shopping yet and I hadn’t even started on Christmas gifts.

So I began to pray Psalm 107:19 over my home. It says in the psalm , “They cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He sent his word and healed them and delivered them from their destruction.”

Meanwhile when I was covering my family in prayer, God was already working.

Love inc & Yosemite Church came together with boxes filled with everything we needed plus more. It wasn’t just normal boxes, they were filled with meats, cheeses, yogurts, bread, toilet paper and so much more! Everything my family needed.

They even put a gift card to help buy Christmas gifts to put under our tree, because we had none. No one knew exactly what we needed but God knew and went above and beyond those needs.

While filling my fridge, I felt such a relief and with this overwhelming peace I knew everything was going to be OK. My family was going to eat and even have a little something to open on Christmas day.

I thought to myself, gosh I’m on the other end, because you never know what it feels like to be in dire need and have those needs met in such a scary situation. So after that thought, the desire rose up in me to serve others the way I was served.

How can I not give back and help Restore hope in others how my hope was restored. Love in the name of Christ was my answer. I didn’t want to wait for a need or situation to arise. I wanted to serve others now and

Love Inc is a ministry that helps others in helpless situations every day. I wanted to be a part of that.

In January when everyone was well and back to normal, I thought, “ You know what? I have the time...I have the desire....and I have the calling!”

That’s when I contacted Bre and expressed my desire. She was so happy to hear from me and welcomed me and didn’t overwhelm me. She worked around my time and schedule to come in and serve.

Now everyone gets a little nervous starting something new you know? New place, new faces, I hope they like me.... But they welcomed me, and they were so kind, and so excited to meet me and have me there.

They made me feel so good. I was making new friends and locking arms with people who had the same calling all while helping others.

Filling out the application was quick and easy. It helps them get to know me and my gifts and desires so that when I go out and serve they won’t put me in a place where I’m not confident or uncomfortable.

My time there since has been so fulfilling.

It says in Isaiah 58:10 “ .... and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness and your night will become like the noonday.”

This is a place where I can let my light shine.

Read Alex's story:

My name is Alex. In 2019 my kids were put in foster care by their mother. Unfortunately, I started drinking and ended up homeless, due to my poor decision making.

I found myself looking for an opportunity to find a positive environment for my children, so I moved from Massachusetts to Merced. I tried everything I could to get my kids back in a stable home environment, and that meant I needed some furniture. I contacted Love INC and after a conversation, they helped me get the furniture that my family and I needed. I wanted to volunteer because I believe in service work, and when you help others, you help yourself.

I called Love INC and they needed some help in the furniture ministry, which is my career background so I began volunteering to help deliver furniture. My experience has been amazing!

I can honestly say that I didn’t find Love INC,

Love INC found me! My children are back home with me, I am now an usher at Yosemite Church

and I am so grateful to God!