A spokesman for a central Iowa organization that serves the homeless says there are plans underway to make and serve them a nice meal. Keith Isley is director of development for Hope Ministries which runs the Bethel Mission, an emergency shelter for men in downtown Des Moines, the Door of Faith recovery program in a southside neighborhood, and a thrift store on the capital city’s east side. There are plans to serve more than a thousand meals at Bethel Mission and other locations. Isley says at this or any time of year, shelters for the homeless are struggling and can always use your donation. In addition to cash gifts, a program called “Head to Toe” will give a list of items most needed by a man, woman or child so groups or families can put together a care package for someone. The organization that runs shelters and programs for the very poor also has a financial counselor on the staff.They offer “planned giving” advice for people who’d like to put the charity into their will or legacy, and with the end of the year coming, can also give helpful advice folks looking at what kind of gift could help the charity as well as earn them a useful tax deduction.
