Statements

Mission

Connect Us Outreach Ministry is a non-profit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping homeless, ex-offenders, and drug-addicted women transition back into society. CUOM connects these women to established resources in the community to help them regain their independence through mentoring, job training, and spiritual guidance. Our mission is to provide hope to women and their partners, transitioning back into society from the ill effects of incarceration, homelessness, addiction, and abuse.

Background

Connect Us Outreach Ministry began in 2005 as an outreach project conducted by Minister Yvette Lowery and several women under a missionary department at a local church. This outreach project included going into the Davidson County Sheriff's Department every second and third Tuesday of the month, teaching, preaching and providing spiritual encouragement to women while they were imprisoned. Many of the women that were ministered to, had expressed fears of being released; fears that without support, they would repeat negative behaviors and poor choices, only to end up incarcerated again. CUOM was formed as a follow-up mentoring program to give the women this very support, connecting them with jobs, churches and other community resources. In 2007, several women were released from incarceration who had given their lives to Christ. Through the hard work of Minister Lowery and her staff, this ministry was able to assist women with transportation to job interviews, connect them to housing programs, provide clothing and personal hygiene products. Through CUOM, women were able to confidently seek employment, obtain housing, regain a positive self-image and achieve self-sufficiency.

Impact

Connect Us Outreach Ministry Top Five Accomplishments for 2020
- Stayed open during Covid- 19 shut Down and served approx. 400 people per mo. with perishable and nonperishable food boxes as a partner with 2nd harvest food bank
- We served approx. 100 homeless clients with the soup for souls' program quarterly,
- We gave during annual winter drive hats, gloves, mask to >100 homeless clients
- We served over 200 Tornado victims with clothing, food, personal items, diapers.
- We partnered with Greater Christ Temple Church/ Meharry hospital with giving away food boxes during the vaccination event.
Connect Us Outreach Ministry Top Five accomplishments for 2021
-Served food boxes as a partner with 2nd harvest food bank
- We delivered food boxes to approx. 100 elderly clients
Connect Us Outreach Ministry Top Five accomplishments for 2022
-Second Harvest Food Pantry-426 approx.
-Under the bridge Ministry- served 40bags x12 approx. 480snack bags
-Clothing Ministry-313
-Save Our Youth- (New Program) Implementing September 2022. We have 3 Young men (single mothers)13-18 yrs. mentoring- They volunteered for "Soup for souls' outreach", odd jobs, prep for employment
-Annual Feeding-We prepared to feed 150-200 people outside the room at the Inn on December 3, 2022- (see attached pictures). We also gave bags with socks, gloves, hats, and personal items such
as soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste.
-We gave away clothing to clients looking for employment.
-We gave household goods and furniture to red cross victims, and Tornado victims
-We served soup for souls quarterly , and gave awayfood, hats, gloves and personal Items at site near Room in the Inn . We served 100-150 clients.

Needs

Connect Us Outreach Ministry Most Pressing Needs: CUOM needs a truck to help transport donations for our clients' food pantry and furniture donations.
We need repairs at our clothing closet, such as the heat/HVAC system in the building.
We need help with roof repair in the building to help serve our clients.
We need personal Items, such as mas, sanitizer, soap, shampoo, etc., to give out to people experiencing homelessness during Soup for Soul's events.
We need volunteers to help expand our services and start new programs. Volunteers to help with Marketing, fundraising, and developing programs.

CEO Statement

CUOM is. Instead of giving a handout, or telling people where to go, we hold their hand and take them to the resources in their communities. We also follow up with each individual and we provide continued encouragement throughout each phase of becoming whole. Many of the women coming from incarceration have low self-esteem and low self-worth. Once they have served their time, we believe in complete restoration. We see women not as who they once were, but as who they can become. We believe in the possibility of total transformation. The primary focus is on the women, but we have found that many of them have husbands and children. CUOM is unique in that this program involves the family in the restoration process.

The Save our youth program is where we are encouraging our youth that are raised by single parents get involved in volunteering. When we do events, such as feeding, volunteering at the center, or encouraging other young people to get involved with volunteering, they gain points. At the end of the year, they are eligible to get school supplies or dorm supplies for college.

Board Chair Statement

Because I understand homelessness from personal experience, I understand that people from all walks of life can fall into tragic circumstances that require outside support. I was destitute, without family support, on the streets, and did whatever it took to survive. I found myself in a homeless shelter that took me aside from the other women and walked me through to getting back on my feet. This difference, helped me to be successful while I watched other women, go without support, fail and fail again. I have found that having someone in your corner cheering you on 'you can make it' and having a relationship with Christ 'I can do all thing through Christ that strengthens me.' With new found confidence, I was able to rebuild my life. Eventually, I was able to get my GED, obtain housing, and pursue a nursing degree. I now serve as an RN 3 at Vanderbilt Hospital, a respected Magnet facility in Nashville, Tennessee.

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Human Services  - Emergency Assistance (Food, Clothing, Cash)
Secondary Category:	Food, Agriculture & Nutrition  - Food Banks, Food Pantries
Tertiary Category:	Housing, Shelter  - Housing Search Assistance

Areas Served

At present, Connect Us Outreach Ministry is serving the Nashville Davidson County area. We are planning to expand to surrounding areas in the near future. We are actively looking to expand in Clarksville and Springfield Tennessee.

TN - Davidson