The First United Methodist Church, together with a group of local churches in the Commerce area, form the Commerce Alliance of Ministries, whose work becomes increasingly significant to the less fortunate during the holidays.
“It’s set up so that these churches can give donations to the Commerce Alliance of Ministries, and then these funds go to help people in the immediately Commerce area who are needing help with food, medication, sometimes basic housing needs,” United Methodist office manager Marie Andrews said.
The Commerce Police Department is also actively involved with needy residents or visitors and issues vouchers to those who need the aid.
“What we’ll normally give to those who have no place to stay is a voucher for the Commerce Inn, here in town, but we’re not beyond giving a little gas money or grocery money either,” Police Chief Kerry Crews said. “That’s usually handled by the church though. Usually it’s a maximum of $20.”
The vouchers are accepted in various places across town and all eventually end up back at the United Methodist church, which works with the local branch of the Salvation Army to make all this possible.
“We’ve been doing this for quite a while,” Andrews said. “We started in the late ’90s, and prior to that, the First Baptist had it for about ten years.”
The local Salvation Army has its own bell ringers out during the holidays, at Brookshire’s, Wal-Mart and other places.
“Those funds go to us 100%, and it’s what we use throughout the year to offer assistance,” Andrews said. “Over the last two years, it’s run just a little over $9,000.”
Through this program, they’ve also been able to set up a food pantry in town at the centralized location of the Presbyterian Church.
“The food is distributed at 2 p.m. on Thursdays, and you must be a Commerce resident to be able to accept any of it.” Andrews said.
The people who truly have nowhere to go are usually picked up at night after the church has closed by the police officers that patrol the city.
“There are about two per month that we give assistance to,” Crews said “It’s not necessarily the stereotype either. We help people who are having marital problems or may have come onto some bad luck that night.”
The officers put people who fall under these categories up at the Commerce Inn.
“[We have] two a month,” Commerce Inn employee, Tim Patel said. “[There are] usually not more than that. They are in and out quietly, and more often than not, it’s just domestic issues: husband and wife got into a fight or things like that.”
According to Andrews, the Commerce Alliance of Ministries’ program known as EPIC (Eliminating Poverty in Commerce) has been successful thus far.
“Commerce is a very active community with helping,” Andrews said. “I’m very, very proud of its citizens. Three years ago, we set out to eliminate poverty, and we’ve seen a remarkable difference.”