7/13/23 UPDATE: The July 18 and 25 free marketplaces have been cancelled due to a conflict of interest.
Be Encouraged Now will run giveaways at Mt. Zion Ministries in Lansing
LANSING, Ill. (July 10, 2023) – Local non-profit Be Encouraged Now has organized a “Free Market” event on Tuesday July 11, July 18, and July 25. The event will be a free giveaway of toys, clothes, shoes, bikes, and other household items at Mt. Zion Ministries in Lansing from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The giveaway is the first such event of Be Encouraged Now, a non-profit recently founded by retired minister Joseph Jackson. Together with his wife, sister, and others, Jackson created the organization to bless Lansing, Lynwood, and other communities.
“I’m just excited. This is my first event,” Jackson said.
Jackson said the items that will be given away at the event are for people of all ages and backgrounds. Some items are new, while others are lightly used and have been cleaned by Jackson and his family.
“We have toys, stuffed animals, we have brand new shoes, used shoes, we have a guitar, we have vacuum cleaners, we have basketballs, baseball bats. We have bikes. So it’s kids, adults, it’s really a little bit for everyone,” Jackson said.
Jackson said the items come from various sources. One woman buys new items on Amazon and gives them to him. Someone else has access to new Bibles and toiletries, and donates the items to Jackson. A man Jackson knows refurbished 50 bicycles and gave them to Jackson for the giveaways.
“We go through every single item, if it’s something we wouldn’t take ourselves, we won’t put it out,” Jackson said.
Overall, Jackson hopes to bless those in need through the “Free Market.”
“What you can do with a dollar before you can’t do with it now,” he said.
Dates and times
The upcoming giveaways will occur on the following dates and times:
- Tuesday, July 11 — 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Tuesday, July 18 — 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Tuesday, July 25 — 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Mt. Zion Ministries regularly holds food giveaways on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The church is located at 2340 177th Street in Lansing. More information about Be Encouraged Now is available on the organization’s Facebook page.
Related
- Mt. Zion will keep on blessing — until they can’t (June 29, 2023)
