In today’s economy, many families and individuals find themselves in unfamiliar financial territory. Living in financial hardship can be a lonely journey, and help is often challenging to find. Fortunately, Texoma residents have options when help is needed. Food assistance and educational opportunities are among the most frequently requested services from area charities. The Texoma area is fortunate to have a strong nonprofit organization that helps families and individuals meet those needs. MasterKey Ministries of Grayson County, Inc. offers assistance in these areas and much more.
MasterKey Ministries of Grayson County, Inc. was founded in 2009 by Julie Rickey. Rickey, the director of MasterKey Ministries, was a single mother of seven children who recognized the need for a faith-based organization that provides support services for those impacted by financial hardship. Since the organization was founded, many new services have been added to assist those working to improve their circumstances.
Rickey says that to be successful in helping people, programs must reach individuals on multiple levels. “We have to first ask, ‘What can we do today?’ And how do we address the hunger and care needs of people right now? One of the biggest issues is that parents are often in need of quality preschool and after-school care.”
Melinda McMillan, marketing director for MasterKey Ministries, says the MasterKey Academy was created to meet that need. “We provide quality care and educational experiences for children ages three months to five years through our preschool program. We also offer a wonderful after-school program for children in kindergarten through fifth grade, where we provide structure, homework help, fun activities, snacks, and outdoor activities. I can see how this ministry truly works. We have to realize this is a mission field and outreach. We want to make preschool and after-school education affordable for families in need and offer great experiences with quality care and education.”
Childcare is just one of the needs, says Rickey. “Families need food as well, and it can be expensive to provide quality meals for those with limited income and resources.” MasterKey Ministries’ Food Assistance program provides an assortment of nutritious foods, including meats and dairy products, breads, and canned goods to help feed families in need.
Food is distributed weekly on Fridays at Harvest Time Church, 222 S. Heritage Parkway in Sherman, and Saturdays at MasterKey Ministries, 209 S. Heritage Parkway in Sherman. Food pickup is from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on both days.
“Getting Ahead” and “Staying Ahead” are two programs that MasterKey Ministries offers to educate, assist, and prepare participants for the journey of improving their lives. Participants learn life skills such as understanding the causes of poverty, managing housing costs, navigating income levels, stabilizing personal situations, and identifying available community resources. Rickey says that in addition to these important elements, faith and fellowship are also essential.
“Even though we help our participants find the keys to surviving and even thriving, learning about our faith, learning to trust in God, and fellowship help us use these keys to open and walk through the door to success. It is exciting to hear the success stories from individuals and families who have gone through our sixteen-week courses and to celebrate their success with them.”
For more information, call 903-771-2816 or email contact@masterkeyministries.org.
“Our goal is to provide real support, from food to education, while creating opportunities for families to build stability and move forward with confidence.”