Mark Stone, director of Brother Charlie’s Rescue Center, spoke to Kiwanis Club members Friday about the importance of the community’s involvement in Brother Charlie’s operations.

According to Stone, it takes $1,000 a day to operate Brother Charlie’s. One monthly electricity bill alone can be more than $4,000.

“Without the support of the community there is no way we could do what we do.” he said.

While they rely heavily on donations from organizations like the Kiwanis Club and individual donations, most of the funding to keep the facility open is generated from their three thrift stores in Cordele, Fitzgerald and Tifton. The thrift stores both provide jobs for the community and allow needy families to be self-sustaining and buy needed items at affordable prices.

Stone said that it is important for people in needy situations to be able to purchase necessities on their own and not always depend on handouts from charity.

“We want to be a solution to the problem, not enable it,” Stone said. “Anyone staying at Brother Charlie’s must either have a job or be actively seeking employment.”

One thing that Stone said he had noticed recently was an increase in homeless women and said that unless they had been abused and went to Ruth’s Cottage, a battered women’s shelter, there was nowhere for them to go in Tifton at this time. Brother Charlie’s hopes to eventually open a shelter for women and children as well which can provide housing and help for women who are homeless or have a substance addiction.

Stone said that the declining economy has caused a loss of jobs and that the shelter is seeing more and more requests for community assistance like food donations, clothing and other essential items.

“We are seeing an increase of people needing help because of joblessness.” Stone said. “I don’t see it affecting the resident count yet but I think it will happen.”

They do what they can to assist anyone who needs help and refer them to other agencies when necessary.

“Most agencies resources are being depleted, though,” Stone said. “Food and monetary assistance is short.”

Brother Charlie’s also offers Crossway Addiction Ministries, a rehabilitation program specifically for drug and alcohol addicts, and community services like an open kitchen to the community and providing clothing and furniture in the cases of natural disasters.

“Our primary mission,” he said, “is to provide at least six months of our rehabilitation program to the homeless.”

He said that this includes housing, job-finding assistance and transportation.

“We provide these people with three square meals a day, clothing, laundry supplies, warm showers, help them to find jobs, give counseling for addictions and offer church services.” Stone said.

This year Brother Charlie’s will offer their traditional Thanksgiving dinner at noon on Nov. 27. It will be open to public and so far they estimate that they can feed up to 100 people. Several volunteers have already agreed to come help or to donate food.

“Anyone who want to come just needs to contact Brother Charlie’s to make reservations so that we know how many we need to be prepared to feed.” Stone said.

Brother Charlie’s Rescue Center is located at 326 Beech St. They can reached at 382-0577.



To contact reporter Chivaun Perez, call 382-4321.