What happens when you have an eight-member staff, sixteen-member board of directors, over 50 local congregations, and hundreds of community members with one common goal to meet basic human needs? Well, you get the army of caring, generous people who make up Paducah Cooperative Ministry by doing God’s work with human hands.
Paducah Cooperative Ministry is an inter-faith ministry founded in 1973 by local congregations. The ministry belongs to these congregations who ask and enable PCM to do important work on their behalf. Their mission is simple: The Paducah Cooperative Ministry seeks to do God’s work with human hands by bringing together individuals and resources to respond to basic human needs and conditions in McCracken County.
Paducah Cooperative Ministry responds to immediate needs including food assistance, utility assistance, homelessness, prescription medicine assistance, and more. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, needs have deepened, and PCM has responded with customized help by examining needs, determining priorities and strategies, and taking action as quickly as possible.
Heidi Suhrheinrich, Executive Director of Paducah Cooperative Ministry shares, “We’ve found out, especially this year, that anybody can fall into hard times. Anybody can need help that never ever thought they would be in that position and have to ask for help. We’ve really had it brought home that surprises happen to all of us.”
Paducah Cooperative Ministry also operates a shelter, Fresh Start Village, for women and moms with children who find themselves displaced from a home environment. Heidi shares, “We aim to break the cycle of homelessness by making this a service-based shelter. Women are usually with us for three to six months before we are able to help them establish a home on their own.” Because of this, PCM accepts donations of household items such as pots, pans, utensils, tables, chairs, and other items that may help someone establish a home.
While PCM remains astonished at the giving hearts in our community, there is always a constant need for food and groceries. Heidi explains how they keep their food pantry stocked, saying, “Our food pantry receives donations partly from congregation collections, individual food or monetary donations, and partly from personal gardens and local restaurants. It’s kinda like a patchwork quilt; all these small pieces come together, and we make it work with what we have.”
Every week, several local restaurants donate cooked but unused food to Paducah Cooperative Ministry. Paducah Meal Prep has donated several meals to PCM, something they are so grateful for, since the meals are already prepped and only need be heated. “Many of our clients do not have the means to prepare meals from scratch. We are very grateful for donations from Paducah Meal Prep,” Heidi expresses.
In addition to Paducah Meal Prep, PCM has been receiving surplus lunches from the local school districts a couple of times a week, along with surplus cooked food from restaurants such as Longhorn Steakhouse, Red Lobster, Bob Evans, and Olive Garden. For example, baked potatoes are typically cooked ahead of the dinner rush in restaurants, and any that don’t get used each night are frozen and donated to PCM. Banks Market and Panera Bread also donate bakery items weekly.
“Two organizations that may surprise you are Crash Comics and Big Lots,” Heidi smiles. “Brent Thurston at Crash Comics does a couple food drives per year, which include comic giveaways, and they show up with truckloads of canned goods. With Big Lots, it may be surplus food, household items, infant formula; it’s always a surprise, which is exciting for us and our clients.”
The main requirement to receive help through Paducah Cooperative Ministries is that you are a resident of McCracken County. “That’s where our resources come from, so we want to keep donations within our community,” Heidi explains. “We have such a compassionate community. I’m always astonished at the response we get when we ask for a specific item. I’m so proud of our community for looking out for one another.”
If you would like to donate to PCM, you may do so by calling their office for guidance. If you’re wondering what they are in need of specifically, be sure to check their website and follow them on social media. Community members may also volunteer at PCM. A few volunteer tasks include working the welcome desk, running a weekly donation pick-up route, mentoring, or helping with events.
If you are a local business owner that would like to be involved with Paducah Cooperative Ministry, please contact their office to discuss how you can be a valued partner. If you or someone you know may benefit from services provided by PCM, contact the office. PCM can be reached Monday-Friday 9 AM-Noon and 1 PM-3:30 PM at 270-442-6795. You can also find additional information on their website: www.paducahcoopministry.org. All correspondence and client help is being conducted via phone and curbside pick-up at this time.
