Father's Market serves variety of needs

Each Thursday evening, Heart of the City Church opens its doors, but not for a service.

Instead, the church welcomes visitors to The Father’s Market, an event that provides a free dinner, food bank, clothing and tools closets, and educational services.

Myndi Sizemore, a church employee who oversees The Father’s Market, said the program extends beyond two hours every Thursday.

“We don’t just want to help them feel OK for that moment,” Sizemore said. “We want to help them get through these tough times in their lives.”

In addition to all these free services provided by the church, the Heritage Health mobile clinic bus is also on-site on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month.

Sizemore said the partnership allows The Father’s Market to treat both physical needs as well as deeper needs people may be concealing.

“So often, the physical needs are just the visible tip of the iceberg,” Sizemore said. “We try to dig deeper to build those relationships and better equip people for their futures.”

Sizemore encouraged any and all people to attend the weekly event, whether they needed a meal, some warm clothes, or just someone to talk to.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a senior struggling to get by on your Social Security, a single mom, or homeless,” she said.

The Father’s Market plans to add even more resources and services in the near future, according to Sizemore.

The nonprofit accepts donations of food, hygiene products, clothing and tools at its office located on Heart of the City Church premises at 772 W. Kathleen Ave. from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

The Father’s Market is open Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. To access the food bank, community members need proof of address and one valid form of identification.

For more information, visit theheartcda.com or email Myndi Sizemore at 2beautyfromashes@gmail.com.