ONE MISSION CAMBRIDGE
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Mission Statement
One Mission Cambridge is a coalition of Christian faith communities called to provide hope by meeting the physical and spiritual needs of men, women, and children in Dorchester County.
About This Cause
Since June 2022, One Mission Cambridge has been serving individuals and families living in poverty through a vibrant mission center in Cambridge. This mission center is located within a lower-income neighborhood and is easily accessible. A group of area churches operates the mission center, which provides much-needed services and resources to under-served community members. The mission center offers a food pantry, community navigation services, dinners, and counseling programs. To provide food consistently and spend more time building relationships with the neighbors, several churches have consolidated their food pantries into one location, the mission center. This center is open every week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 1-5 p.m.). The food pantry within the mission center is set up like a store so people can choose the food they need and will use, thus preventing food waste. This store model eliminates the confusion of where to go for food and establishes a consistent, efficient, and dignified approach to food distribution. The average number of monthly guests receiving food is 365 (and growing). These folks support their household of 786 people. This average has increased since 2023, when 328 clients were served monthly. One Mission Cambridge also hosts community dinners on the first Monday of every month. The dinners offer abundant food and a hospitable environment rich with relation-ship-building opportunities. This family-style meal is so important to those who feel lonely and disenfranchised. The average number of people attending these monthly dinners is 60, with some dinners reaching an attendance of 100 guests. The goal is to have a com-munity dinner every night of the week in different low-income neighborhoods in Dorches-ter County. Along with distributing food, trained volunteers and staff listen to clients and connect them to services. Community navigation ensures clients are connected to all programs that can improve their lives. For example, the clients needing housing assistance will be directed to the local shelter and encouraged to make appointments with local agencies that can assist with funding for that purpose. Computers and a telephone are available to make appointments, apply for jobs, and research information. The time spent with clients strengthens relationships and trust within the community, another way to improve community members' physical and mental health. Many guests check in daily at the mission center to say Hi and talk because they feel seen and valued. Another component of One Mission Cambridge is counseling services, which include individual counseling. Counseling services were included in the mission center plans after members of One Mission Cambridge attended many community meetings to determine what programs to offer. The need expressed most frequently during these community conversations was mental health services to individuals and families. Plans are in place to expand these services to support anger management and grief groups.