Motivated by God’s love for all people and Christ’s command to care for the vulnerable, Sowing Seeds of Hope exists to promote positive, sustainable, and collaborative community development that benefits the residents of Perry County, Alabama. Our work includes efforts to improve health-related outcomes, housing, and family resources, which include education, economic development, and concrete support.
In partnership with Samford University’s McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Sowing Seeds of Hope offers a Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Clinic each week at the Perry County Health Department. Individuals working to control their blood sugar take part in the monthly Diabetes Support Group at the Ed Daniel Job Training Center.
Children in the community benefit from the Little Free Library, which provides access to age-appropriate books at all times. Programs such as Weekend Recess, conducted in partnership with Judson College’s Office of Faith-Based Service and Learning, bring recreation and character education to housing complexes in Marion. Local families benefit from weekly on-demand parenting classes, which provide guidance for fostering development of children from infancy through adolescence.
Sowing Seeds of Hope provides indigent care, helping alleviate food insecurity and providing medication assistance. Assistance with utility bills is provided for the elderly and disabled is provided through Project SHARE, an energy assistance program administered by The Salvation Army.
We continue our efforts to bring a critical access hospital to Marion after a twenty year absence of emergency services in Perry County. A recent study conducted by the University of Alabama Culverhouse College of Business indicated that it is financially feasible to build, open, and sustain a critical access hospital in our community.
Sowing Seeds of Hope directs the only USDA Mutual Self-Help Housing Program to have completed a home in Alabama in the past thirty years. We have now completed eighteen homes, and four more families are in the preliminary stages of the program.
All services offered by Sowing Seeds of Hope are available at no charge to clients through the generosity of volunteers, partner churches, private donors, government agencies, and philanthropic foundations. Community members who receive services are encouraged to serve as volunteers in other programs.
Sowing Seeds of Hope brings people together to build families, homes, knowledge, and hope, using all available resources to offer a hand up, not just a handout.
