Salt and Light Ministries began in 2004 as a food and furniture pantry in Champaign. By 2014, however, its founders recognized the limit to their effectiveness: they were serving, but mostly in the sense of alleviating crisis in the short term. Study and reflection led them to a model they hoped would offer sustainable assistance to families and individuals based on people’s capacities and interests.
Salt & Light occupies a unique place in the constellation of groups and organizations addressing poverty, allowing people to promote their own goals, determine their own needs, and gain resources without losing dignity – or any necessary government benefits. It is not uncommon for credit-earning volunteers to become regular staff members, nor for those who do not need to store credit to shop or volunteer regularly, simply for the pleasure of supporting their neighbors in the good work of Salt and Light.
During the first round of COVID-19 aid, Salt & Light received a grant that secured the project’s community impact by increasing the hourly amount of credit that for-credit volunteers earn, and more. The impact of this on households and individuals with limited resources cannot be overstated. Nor can the impact of the mission’s presence in the communities it serves.
Join us on April 29 at 7 p.m. for a virtual celebration. Registration is free, but advance registration is required.