Bianca May, of Vandalia, is the executive director Our Father’s Family Keeper Ministries, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of families throughout Cass County. May co-founded the service organization alongside her husband, Curtis, in 2012.

What are some of the services Our Father’s Family Keeper Ministries provides?

We provide no-cost daycare for our young 20 year olds, who don’t have the support system that allows them to work or go to school [while raising children].

We also have a transitional housing program, that houses homeless women or women with kids, which helps them develop habits that lead toward self-sufficiency.

 

What makes you and your husband follow this line of ministry?

We’re both retired, but there’s no retirement in the Bible. We just keep our eyes peeled for areas where people have a need, and see what areas we can help with, based on the community’s needs.

 

Why is this outreach necessary in Cass County?

There’s a huge need for daycare. A lot of our communities have manufacturing jobs. There is no daycare for second and third shift — everybody is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It does need that, but it needs more… that summer school, that daycare for second and third shift. The needs are great.

 

Is there any other volunteer work you do?

We volunteer our home, which is on a lakefront, and we have kid groups come in. We allow them to have a day of water activities, like canoes, paddleboats, kayak, pontoon boats — things that kids don’t get to experience that often. We have relay games, basketball. We host groups from Kalamazoo, Chicago; whoever would like to use the property. All they have to do is pay for the food. We don’t charge for this.

We do overnight camping as well. Camping in the woods, in a tent — it’s getting to be something kids have no clue about, but it’s an experience that makes you appreciate the outdoors and the environment, and it’s fun to learn.

 

Is there anything you want to say to encourage people to provide outreach?

It’s not just about you and your family — you look out for others, and you try to help others. We need to move back to the time when we saw someone who was struggling, we would reach out and help, not say, “That’s not my problem, because that’s not my family and I don’t know you.” We just have to get back to that village mentality.

 

People interested in learning more about Our Father’s Family Keeper Ministries can do so by calling May at (269) 476-1257, or by visiting their webpage at http://ourfathersfamilykeeper.org.

Do you know a volunteer worthy of recognition? Nominate him or her by calling Craig Haupert, community editor, at (269) 687-7720, or by email at craig.haupert@leaderpub.com.