Barbara Swearengen Ware (left) presents Jenny V. Currington, a nurse on LTACH team at Regional One Health with the Outstanding Service Award for Mission Possible Charter Board Member Eddie Nelms’ care. Mission Possible: Christian Outreach Service Mission (MP:COSM) kicked off its 39th annual fundraiser to help the least among us as the organization makes plans to celebrate 40 years in 2020. Mission Possible serves the elderly, hurting, homeless and hungry; widows, and those who are fatherless, oppressed, prisoners, sick, and broken-hearted. The agency needs your help to continue its efforts to provide food, clothes, counseling services, prayer support, and training and there’s more than one way for you to support this tax-deductible nonprofit organization. MP:COSM founder Thelma Nelms is a former US Postal Service employee who worked as an EEO counselor and retired as a Workplace Improvement Analysis. She knows the pain of discrimination and workplace violence and is skilled at helping others to find triumph and victory in life. However, from inside the walls of the USPS, Nelms was limited on what she could do to help people. Mission Possible was born from the issues that did not fall under the purviews of EEO discrimination. After Nelms and a group of her federal co-workers prayed for relief and aid to help in these situations, and thanks to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, in 1980 this Christian-based outreach program was born. When Nelms was questioned about her inspiration for creating Mission Possible, she replied, “I can remember the joy I felt when my family and I received Christmas baskets sponsored by the Elks. Generosity has a positive mental effect on those who share, even if only a small amount of their wealth, with others. Fifty years ago, I never thought that a little girl growing up in poverty would be able to give back. It’s amazing how the Lord’s favor has been present in my life and in the fertile soil of Mission Possible.” Centrally located at 2400 Poplar Avenue, Ste. 428, MP: COSM is easily accessible by public transportation for those who need services. The Poplar Avenue offices of Mission Possible: COSM can be used as a host space for special events, meetings, and retreats with approved reservations. “We provide guidance, counseling, basic life coaching, and (Above) Outstanding Supporters (from left) James and Ann Word, Carolyn and Henry Ware, Sheriff Floyd Bonner, and Dr. Leroy Davis, Chaplain at 201 Poplar, were honored by Mission Possible: COSM founder Thelma Nelms, former President of Federally Employed Women at the event. (Below) Nelms’ also honored Outstanding Supporters (seated from left) Richard Baxter and Jimmie Leach of Miss Girlee’s Restaurant; (standing), Pastor Barbara Green and Aaron Leach (Right). training for the poor and affluent through seminars and retreats focusing on workplace and family issues,” added Nelms who has recently added anger management and violence prevention trainings. “We’re currently totaling our final numbers for 2018, but we provided over 9,000 services in 2017 although, due to reduced funding and volunteerism, we may fall a little short in 2018. We are praying for additional funding and volunteers so that our services can continue being a blessing to the community.” Nelms’ long list of accomplishments includes USPS accolades, giving seminar presentations, sipping tea with 1st Lady Barbara Bush, personally meeting Wilma Rudolph, Oprah Winfrey, Dorothy Height, founder of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and many local national leaders including Bishop G.E. Patterson and Dr. Herbert W. Brewster. Mission Possible: COSM accepts all major credit cards, checks and money orders (payable to Mission Possible: COSM) for tax-deductible donations and encourages federal employees to select them by visiting msdeltacfc.org and/or selecting CFC #64098 through their Workplace Donor Choice program before January 8, 2019. Non-federal employees can select the agency through the United Way Donor Choice Program. No services are available for housing or utility assistance and hours are by appointment only. Call (901) 458-4357 (HELP) for more information. 26
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