Lori Light with Crestwood Medical Center, at left, and Melissa Thompson with The Community Foundation, at right, present a grant to assist women and children to Inside-Out Ministries founders Larry and Deborah Ward. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – A grant to Inside-Out Ministries from the Crestwood Medical Center Women & Families Fund and The Community Foundation of Huntsville-Madison County already has improved quality of life for families in peril.

Founders Larry and Deborah Ward realized Inside-Out could qualify “when it said ‘Women and Families Fund’ and ’emergency assistance.’ We knew we fit,” Deborah said.

Crestwood and the foundation have awarded $15,000 earmarked for women and children’s aid. Inside-Out received $2,500, which is preventing evictions and providing homes (rent) for women and families, Larry said.

To receive the grant, the Wards filed the required application, program plan and documentation. Inside-Out Ministries is a non-profit public charity.

The grant allowed a single mother with two children to move into “her own place. She was so excited. She told us, ‘My face hurts; I can’t stop smiling.’ Little did she know we all felt the same way,” Deborah said.

The Wards were pleased “to give someone a little ‘lift. Inside-Out provided beds, bedding, kitchen table, chairs and other furnishings,” she said. Furthermore, volunteers helped the mother move with an Asbury Community Thrift Store truck and employee.

A family of three with a child who has disabilities also benefited with moving and utilities assistance.

In other work, Inside-Out is collecting used shoes until Nov. 30 for third-world countries. “Bring us you old cleats, tennis shoes, boots and yard shoes. We need 10,000 shoes to make an impact,” Deborah said.

Christian Women’s Job Corps is offering free classes at Inside-Out. Community Action Partnership is on-site five days each week. During tax season, Inside-Out will host free tax preparation services through AARP. On Thursdays, Inside-Out hosts “The Gathering Prayer Room” from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. for solitary or group prayer.

On Nov. 26 from 4 to 7 p.m., Inside-Out will host the fifth annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner, which is free, at Bob Jones High School. “Just so no one spends Thanksgiving alone,” Deborah said.

For more information, call 256-325-5193, email to info@inside-outministries.org or visit inside-outministries.org, Facebook/Inside-Out Ministries or Twitter #Insideout_AL.