For more than 54 years, Hillcrest-Bruce Mission in Ashland, Kentucky, has been helping people who want to help themselves through intensive care management combined with intensive amounts of love, support and encouragement. “It’s loving our neighbor by alleviating the suffering that’s caused by poverty,” said Mike Maynard, the mission’s executive director. “Everything we do is focused in the philosophy of how we can help you help yourself and become more self-sufficient.”
Hillcrest-Bruce United Ministries was formed in 1971 by a coalition of Ashland area United Methodist churches who were receiving almost daily requests for help from residents of the
Hillcrest and Bruce apartments in Ashland. The ministry began by providing physical necessities as well as sharing the love of Christ to those in need.
Now, the mission offers a large range of services focusing on four core areas: essential needs, including food, housing and transportation; medical/dental needs, which also
include addiction recovery and mental health; education, which covers everything from preschool to financial literacy to job search resources to assistance with obtaining GED,
licensing/certifications, and college enrollment; and social and spiritual needs, which are addressed through activities like Bible studies and crafting groups.
“If you’re coming to us, it’s never a no or never,” Maynard said. “It’s all right, let’s figure out who it is that’s going to be able to help you with this situation.”
The people that come to the mission are at many different places in their lives. Some are without housing, while others live in substandard conditions. Others are struggling with
transportation or education needs.
“They come to us with very different levels of stability,” Maynard said. “Our job is to help build stability in their lives, to eventually help them get a good paying job where they can
take care of themselves and their families.” But the mission doesn’t stop with a job. It also helps people with transportation, child care
and other resources to give them the greatest chance of success.
“Maybe, initially, they’ve come here to the food pantry or the clothing closet or for dental services, and then they find out everything else we do,” Maynard said. “We’re able to meet
them and figure out what their needs are and then kind of work from there. You peel back the onion. Why aren’t they able to buy their own food? And that could be 100 different
reasons.”
Maynard said the mission is blessed to have strong support from the community through both volunteers and donations. Anyone wishing to help can follow the mission on
Facebook, as a list of needs and volunteer opportunities is posted each Monday. Donations can also be made on the mission’s website.
“We’re faith-based and so it’s figure out what God wants us to do and be in the area,” Maynard said. “And then we think if we’re obedient to that, he’ll provide the resources.”
Hillcrest-Bruce Mission is located at 1819 Eloise St. in Ashland. You can follow it on Facebook @hillcrestbrucemission or visit its website at hillcrestbrucemission.com.