Opportunity
KNOX
A Publication of Knox Area Rescue Ministries
Renewing Lives
with
this Spring
HOPE
See how Shannon (pictured at left)
went from a woman running
on empty to a mother fueled
by God’s love!
• Restoring Lives in Jesus’ Name
MARCH 2015
Welcoming a season of
resurrection and renewal
Dear Friend,
The freshness of spring is always a welcome change
after the long winter season. Seeing the dark, cold winter
days give way to spring’s light and renewal powerfully
illustrates God’s power to faithfully transform lives as well.
You’ll read in this issue of Opportunity Knox about
Shannon, who suffered through a long season of selfneglect. She poured her time and energy into her children,
but she overlooked caring for herself, which affected the
whole family.
Shannon’s spring finally came, thanks to God’s provision
through your generosity. But she’s just one example of
how your compassion gives hurting souls an opportunity
to heal from the past and gain invaluable tools for the
future.
As we move further into this Easter season and
witness the springtime miracle of new life sprouting from
the soil and budding on the trees, I hope you’re reminded
of the renewal you help to bring about in people’s lives
here at KARM.
Whether you prepare meals in our kitchen, raise
money for KARM with your local church or volunteer as a
Bible study teacher for men and women in our long-term
programs, your actions give hope to neighbors in despair.
Thank you for inviting people to come through our
doors as they are, broken down by dark seasons of life,
and for shining a light on the source of renewal for us all.
I thank God for His grace through the resurrection
of His son Jesus in my life, your life and the lives of the
people we’ll meet this spring, and I look forward to
sharing more stories of restoration in the weeks and
months to come.
Sincerely,
Burt Rosen
President & CEO
…I came that
they may have
life and have it
abundantly.
– John 10:10
When you help mothers,
you help the whole family
Shannon’s new start
M
ost moms understand the nature of their
own needs taking a backseat to the needs of
their children. For Shannon, letting years pass
without taking better care of herself took a toll. She
was exhausted, aimless and eventually homeless.
“I stayed with my sister for a while,” Shannon
shares, “but it wouldn’t work out long-term. By God’s
grace, I knew someone here in Knoxville and received a
referral to Knox Area Rescue Ministries.”
Not originally from the area, Shannon was
understandably nervous when she stepped foot
through our doors with her daughter. But as she got to
know women who volunteer and serve in our women’s
facility, she began to
see that God brought
her to KARM for
a reason.
Right away, Shannon received help in obtaining
her ID, her daughter’s birth certificate and their social
security cards, vital records she needed to move
forward. She enrolled in GED courses and regained
confidence in her abilities and skills.
Most importantly, Shannon received the gift of rest.
At first, Shannon felt guilty that she was staying at
KARM for “too long”—she didn’t want to be a burden to
anyone! One of the most reassuring lessons she learned
from a staff member who reminded Shannon, “God
does give his children rest. This might be your time to
rest and get yourself together mentally and spiritually.”
Today, Shannon is more grounded in her faith and
strengthened in her relationship with God. She’s learned
to allow God to teach her important lessons and to give
herself time to put His teachings into practice.
“I’ve calmed down and am trusting God,” Shannon
says. “He has surrounded me with people who care
about my family, who are compassionate and embrace
people for who they are.”
Thanks to your generosity, Shannon’s life renewal
won’t just benefit her—it will be a blessing to her whole
family—a gift any mother would treasure.
Please pray for Shannon as she creates a stable
home life for her family and continues to fill her own cup
in order to have plenty to share with those she loves.
“If you truly need help,
this is the place to go.
They’re 100% supportive and get
to know you individually in order
to help you grow.”
—Shannon, Family Shelter Guest
W
SPRING NEEDS LIST
e are in need of a wide variety of in-kind gifts as we move
into a new season in Knox County. From basic toiletries
to proper clothing, your gifts are a powerful expression
of God’s love to people in need!
Please contact us at (865) 673-6540 or [email protected]
to arrange drop off of KARM Needs List items.
BOLD items are our
GENERAL DAILY NEEDS
greatest immediate needs!
IMMEDIATE NEEDS
• PILLOWS
• SOCKS—men’s and women’s
• GLOVES—all sizes, men’s,
women’s and children’s
• TWIN or FULL BLANKETS
(washable only)
• FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS
• WHOLE BEAN OR GROUND COFFEE
• MEN’S AND WOMEN’S
UNDERWEAR—ALL SIZES
• DIAPERS—all sizes, especially
size 4–5
• TRAVEL SIZE LOTION
• Kleenex
• Bottled water
• Diabetic supplies
• Deodorant
• Laundry detergent
• Razors
• Combs/brushes
• Lice kits
• Infant Tylenol
• Work boots (all sizes)
• Batteries—AAA, AA, C and 9 volt
• Denture cream
• Diabetic test strips for
Bare Contour Meter
• Latex gloves
• Children’s outside toys
• Soap
• Shampoo
• Extra long TWIN SHEET SETS,
ESPECIALLY FLAT SHEETS
• Towels and wash cloths
• KAT Bus passes
(1 day passes ONLY)
• Reading glasses (1–3 power)
• Tylenol
• Ibuprofen
• Baggies—all sizes
• T-shirts
• Smock shirts (all sizes)
• Smock pants (all sizes)
• Pants—men’s and women’s
(all sizes)
• Belts (all sizes)
• Underwear
• Adult diapers
• Baggies—all sizes
• Travel-sized conditioner
• Travel-sized deodorant
• Denture care supplies
• Baby wash
• Baby formula
• Baby bottles
• Baby Orajel
• Baby pacifiers
• Band-aids
• Special treats—bags of candy—
one piece always puts a smile on
anyone’s face
KITCHEN NEEDS
(in commercial quantities please)
• WHOLE BEAN OR GROUND COFFEE
• Eggs
• Breakfast meats (bacon and
sausage)
• Hamburger and hot dog buns
• Hot dogs and hamburger patties
• Fresh fruits (bananas, oranges
and apples)
• Whole and 2% milk
• Hamburger and other USDA meats
• All canned vegetables
(in large commercial size cans)
• Cheese
• Whole potatoes
• Spaghetti sauce
• Peanut butter
• Jelly
• 8 oz. Plastic/Styrofoam cups
(400+ required for each meal)
• Styrofoam/paper bowls
SERENITY NEEDS
• Feminine hygiene products
(pads/tampons)
• Razors
• Shower puffs/loofah
• Q-tips
• Hair spray
• 1 day bus passes
• Ibuprofen/Tylenol/Aspirin
• Cold and flu day time and night
time (tablets or liquid)
• Cough medicine (no alcohol)
• Cough drops
Youth Leading the Way
Special thanks to the Scott Dawson Ministry Team
who came to Sevierville for their Strength to Stand
Youth Conference. Attendees collected over 800
towels and 500 sheets for KARM guests! Students
even went out to stores over the conference weekend
to purchase more sheets and towels. Our guests
thank you!
Honor loved ones while giving back
Looking for a meaningful way to honor
your loved ones? Knox Area Rescue
Ministries offers honorarium and memorial
opportunities. Simply contact KARM at
[email protected] or (865) 633-7675 regarding
Post
y
a
r
P
&
sing
Your prayers are a tremendous bles
at
as we serve and care for the needy
cut
Knox Area Rescue Ministries. Please
out the following prayer requests and
guide
post them somewhere visible as a
when you pray.
the
Pray for guests at KARM to meet
e
Savior and be restored in Jesus’ Nam
Pray for God to guide people to our
doors who need healing and renewal
in their lives
a memorial or honorarium, and we will send
a card to the family or to the individual
being honored. Also makes a perfect gift for
birthdays, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day!
Mark Your
Calendar
★ April, May, June dates
Volunteer Encounter
Specific dates to be determined. Keep watching
KARM.org for updates.
★ March 11
KARM/Newstalk 98.7 Radiothon
You can still help!
Visit www.karm.org/radiothon.
★ June 20
KARM Dragon Boat Festival
Get all the details on the back page of this
newsletter!
➠
Go to KARM.org for immediate
volunteer and event opportunities.
Thanks for helping!
PADDLES UP!
2015 KARM
Dragon Boat Festival
June 20 • The Cove at Concord Park
P
Help us reach our
fundraising goal
of $250,000!
addles are up and excitement is
high as Knox Area Rescue Ministries
(KARM) celebrates the 13th Annual
KARM Dragon Boat Festival at the Cove
at Concord Park.
Paddlers competing in the KARM Dragon Boat Festival commit to raise pledges
in order to support the many life-saving programs that KARM offers the homeless
in our community. Register your team online, have each team member register a
page, and start fundraising! Then on June 20th, join hundreds of other paddlers
competing out on the water.
Event Day Details:
• The festival will be held
on Saturday, June 20th at
The Cove at Concord Park
(The Cove address: 11808 S.
Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN)
• Parking/shuttling is available
at the Farragut Town Hall and
the old Kroger site in Farragut
on Kingston Pike starting at
7:30 a.m., and also at all baseball fields around The Cove
• Festivities will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m.—starting with an opening prayer,
the national anthem and the annual eye dotting ceremony
• The first race begins at 8:45 a.m.
• All support of the race is welcome. Donations for this event can be made at
www.karm.org/dragonboats/
• Many volunteers are needed. Visit www.karm.org/volunteers or e-mail
[email protected] to learn more about how you can volunteer at this
year’s event
• This event is free to the public. It includes a children’s play area, food vendors
and fun activities throughout the day for everyone to enjoy
• Get details and join the conversation on the KARM Dragon Boat Festival
Facebook page or on Twitter @KARMDragonBoats
• For more information, contact Lila Wilson at [email protected] or (865) 633-7623.
KARM BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
DAN HURST
Chairman
Strata-G
SALLY FISHER
Vice Chairman
Morgan, Stanley, LLC
DALE KEASLING
Secretary
Home Federal Bank
DR. WILLIAM BURKHART
Summit Medical Group
NEAL CALDWELL
Dalen Products
RICK COX
Rick Cox Construction
CATHY GONZALEZ
O’Connor Senior Center
DR. JOE JOHNSON
University of Tennessee
DR. LEE MARTIN
Clarity Resources, LLC
DENNIS McCLANE
Woolf, McClane, Bright, Allen &
Carpenter, PLLC
WAYMAN McLAUGHLIN Jr.
G2 Engineering & Management, Inc.
TIM McLEMORE
Gentry, Tipton & McLemore, P.C.
W. FRANK SMITH, III
Washing Equipment of Tennessee
BOBBY STOGNER
The Peoples Bank
DOUG YOAKLEY
CPA, Financial Consultant
BURT ROSEN
President & CEO
Knox Area Rescue Ministries
P.O. Box 3310
Knoxville, TN 37927-3310
(865) 673-6540
www.karm.org