The whole world is in a major crisis right now. My prayers are with everyone, knowing that you are affected by the COVID-19 crisis also.
Over the last few days, we have worked diligently to grant early graduations and extend home passes to those with a safe environment who wished to be home during this time. We still have 243 women and their children in our care and we provide everything they could possibly need while with us.
We have had to make some extremely difficult decisions this week. We have had to lay off 70% of our much-needed, loyal employees. All management and leadership are having to step up and do the jobs of all those (essential) employees who were laid off. Needless to say, we are a very busy group of people.
Lovelady Thrift's annual March Madness sale Saturday saw a drastic decline. And as of today, we had to choose to close both stores and lay off the remaining few staff members who had been running both stores for the last few days. As you know, the thrift stores are our main financial support.
Like so many others, this ministry that everyone has put their blood, sweat and tears into, that many of YOU have invested in, that many of YOU have put your blood, sweat and tears into, is hurting. The devil wishes for us to crumble, but out of the ashes we rise, because of Who we serve. What the devil means to destroy, God will protect and use for His glory. "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified." Isaiah 61:3
We were told this morning it would be very difficult to get emergency funding because we are a faith-based non-profit. As a result, I am reaching out to all friends of the ministry - if there is anything you can do to financially help us, we need it. Financial support and donations of goods are almost non-existent during this time.
If you are unable to help us financially, know our love for you is unconditional and we appreciate what you have done for us in the past. God will open doors (and sometimes He uses people to open them). God has not brought us this far and we have not gone through what we have to give up now.
I know this is a direct ask, but as a friend of the ministry, I felt I needed to let you know what we are facing. Please forward this on to anyone you know who might be in a position to help us. We are praying for you and yours and ask that you please, please pray for us also.
In His Service,
Brenda Lovelady Spahn | 
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