2019 WINNER
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(click on either picture to view Jefferson Award video)
Click to view how Tammy helps senior client Diane Barnes
Click to view how Tammy helps senior client Diane Barnes
My name is Tammy Jewell and I want to share how I opened God’s Hygiene Help Center in my neighbor’s small garage.
At an early age I was always helping people—neighbors, friends and family. I even began cooking meals for our family at age 8.
When people ask me how I began my ministry of distributing hygiene items to the helpless and hopeless, less fortunate in this city, I tell them it all comes down to this: This Help Center is God’s. It was all His idea. I am only doing His work.
In 2011 I felt the pull on my heart to begin providing hygiene products for the many people who were without. For most of us, basic hygiene care is something we can’t imagine living without. But for so many, they have lost their dignity because they simply can’t afford everyday items such as soap, shampoo, deodorant and more. For children attending school. . . for out of work men and women looking for jobs. . . for the elderly and homeless. There are so many who lack these basic needs.
You see, I know what it feels like to be without. As a victim of poverty and a broken home, I often felt like dirt. I would pray for help—for pride and for dignity, but without God, I had none.
Sometimes I needed help to help others. So I would pray, then I called my brother Ross. One day while working for a neighbor, my brother looked at me and said, “Sis, you need to open a Help Center.”
Not saying anything to him that I had been praying and GOD told me to do this. “But how? I’m poor,” I asked the Lord.
I was so afraid. But GOD was telling me, “I am with you.” Jesus kept saying, “Don’t worry. I will make a way. Just listen to me.” I had to follow.
So God’s Hygiene Help Center began. I began couponing, shopping, working hard, giving and helping others. Wow! It is great to work for GOD.
At the same time I was going to the fitness center 2 or 3 times a week, and every time I went to Zumba. There I met a woman named Diane, always smiling and so so friendly, always asking me, “Do you want to go to the Country Club for brunch?”
“No,” I would reply. Then she’d smile and ask, “How about church?”
“No thanks,” I would reply. I didn’t want anyone to know about my past and I was sure I didn’t belong there. Besides I never really go any place except for shopping and running the small help center and to the fitness center.
One day Diane walked into Zumba, and she was crying. Her husband of 25 years had passed away. She went on to say how she never sat alone in church. I could feel her pain and feeling lost. Being afraid, I still couldn’t let her sit alone. So I agreed to go with her to church. She picked me up in the morning and away we went. Never have I made a better decision than this one. It has opened doors to real happiness and a sisterhood.
Wow! How great is this, I thought love here it is—I had been looking for it. It’s GOD’S love, it is the Holy Spirit.
Once I was clean again and heard about Jesus, I had hope. When I came to know Jesus, I knew true hope and protection, and I realized that I could offer the hope and protection of Jesus to others in a bigger, more real way.
Now when I reach out to the hurting, especially those who are being trafficked, I tell them that it is never too late to come home to God. That the Lord will protect them in ways no person can ever do.
I am bold in how I minister to addicts and trafficking victims. I tell them “this is the wrong direction for your life. God is the highest high you will ever experience. You are lost. God misses you. He sent me here to tell you that He loves you.” I give many of them a Bible along with the basic hygiene products.
But how can I afford to help so many on a disability check? I pay my mortgage each month out of my $700+ social security check. I coupon, get great deals at my neighborhood Dollar Store, and my 18 year old daughter and mother donate $25 a month.
But God’s Hygiene Help Center was getting bigger—more and more people were showing up for help. Again I was a little afraid because 100 to 200 people were being served every month; some of them came back two or three times a month.
Then a pastor at our church approached me about helping with $300 a month from the missions fund. Diane began applying for two Thrivent Financial Action Team projects a year where we received a $250 grant to create Blessing Bags, Clean Start Kits, and Purses of Love. With each project other church members donate in kind items or cash for me to shop for good deals.
In 2016 with the help of an attorney at our church, I was able to apply for corporation status. When God’s Hygiene gets the Tax ID, I can open a checking account in the name of the Help Center to deposit donations. I am praying for that day when I can apply for nonprofit status. On October 25, 2017 I signed and sent the application to the State of Ohio for 501(3)(c).
At an early age I was always helping people—neighbors, friends and family. I even began cooking meals for our family at age 8.
When people ask me how I began my ministry of distributing hygiene items to the helpless and hopeless, less fortunate in this city, I tell them it all comes down to this: This Help Center is God’s. It was all His idea. I am only doing His work.
In 2011 I felt the pull on my heart to begin providing hygiene products for the many people who were without. For most of us, basic hygiene care is something we can’t imagine living without. But for so many, they have lost their dignity because they simply can’t afford everyday items such as soap, shampoo, deodorant and more. For children attending school. . . for out of work men and women looking for jobs. . . for the elderly and homeless. There are so many who lack these basic needs.
You see, I know what it feels like to be without. As a victim of poverty and a broken home, I often felt like dirt. I would pray for help—for pride and for dignity, but without God, I had none.
Sometimes I needed help to help others. So I would pray, then I called my brother Ross. One day while working for a neighbor, my brother looked at me and said, “Sis, you need to open a Help Center.”
Not saying anything to him that I had been praying and GOD told me to do this. “But how? I’m poor,” I asked the Lord.
I was so afraid. But GOD was telling me, “I am with you.” Jesus kept saying, “Don’t worry. I will make a way. Just listen to me.” I had to follow.
So God’s Hygiene Help Center began. I began couponing, shopping, working hard, giving and helping others. Wow! It is great to work for GOD.
At the same time I was going to the fitness center 2 or 3 times a week, and every time I went to Zumba. There I met a woman named Diane, always smiling and so so friendly, always asking me, “Do you want to go to the Country Club for brunch?”
“No,” I would reply. Then she’d smile and ask, “How about church?”
“No thanks,” I would reply. I didn’t want anyone to know about my past and I was sure I didn’t belong there. Besides I never really go any place except for shopping and running the small help center and to the fitness center.
One day Diane walked into Zumba, and she was crying. Her husband of 25 years had passed away. She went on to say how she never sat alone in church. I could feel her pain and feeling lost. Being afraid, I still couldn’t let her sit alone. So I agreed to go with her to church. She picked me up in the morning and away we went. Never have I made a better decision than this one. It has opened doors to real happiness and a sisterhood.
Wow! How great is this, I thought love here it is—I had been looking for it. It’s GOD’S love, it is the Holy Spirit.
Once I was clean again and heard about Jesus, I had hope. When I came to know Jesus, I knew true hope and protection, and I realized that I could offer the hope and protection of Jesus to others in a bigger, more real way.
Now when I reach out to the hurting, especially those who are being trafficked, I tell them that it is never too late to come home to God. That the Lord will protect them in ways no person can ever do.
I am bold in how I minister to addicts and trafficking victims. I tell them “this is the wrong direction for your life. God is the highest high you will ever experience. You are lost. God misses you. He sent me here to tell you that He loves you.” I give many of them a Bible along with the basic hygiene products.
But how can I afford to help so many on a disability check? I pay my mortgage each month out of my $700+ social security check. I coupon, get great deals at my neighborhood Dollar Store, and my 18 year old daughter and mother donate $25 a month.
But God’s Hygiene Help Center was getting bigger—more and more people were showing up for help. Again I was a little afraid because 100 to 200 people were being served every month; some of them came back two or three times a month.
Then a pastor at our church approached me about helping with $300 a month from the missions fund. Diane began applying for two Thrivent Financial Action Team projects a year where we received a $250 grant to create Blessing Bags, Clean Start Kits, and Purses of Love. With each project other church members donate in kind items or cash for me to shop for good deals.
In 2016 with the help of an attorney at our church, I was able to apply for corporation status. When God’s Hygiene gets the Tax ID, I can open a checking account in the name of the Help Center to deposit donations. I am praying for that day when I can apply for nonprofit status. On October 25, 2017 I signed and sent the application to the State of Ohio for 501(3)(c).
God’s grace sustains us. Philippians 2:13 God will never ask us to do anything He doesn’t give us the ability and the power to do. That power and ability is called grace.
And just as GOD spoke to me, every word stands true. He never lets me down and is always with me today.
BAD CHOICES AND SHAME
Part of My Life Story by Tammy Jewell
Part of My Life Story by Tammy Jewell
Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.
Isaiah 54:4
I always felt shame, at school and at family gatherings. Everyone could tell we were poor. There were five of us kids at first. Mom and Dad were fighting all the time and drinking a lot. I thought it was because we were poor. I was ashamed. Goodwill would give us food, but no dignity was in the bag. My hair always looked greasy from lack of shampoo to wash it.
When I turned 8, Mom and Dad broke up. My Mom had to go to prison for stabbing a woman and in 1967 you could not claim self defense. We kids were sent to the Children’s Home and again I felt shame. All my life I was ashamed, but not with God.
I was ashamed of Mom. After getting out of prison, she married a black man. One by one we kids were shipped up to New Jersey where everyone was black. Wow, not good! We were living in the poorest neighborhood where we were the only whites. We got beat up every day. I wanted to help all of us kids. By shame, at the age of 13, I gave myself to a 30 year old black man for protection. We had no Dad and Mom was at work. A man of color! What shame!
Then we moved to Columbus where everyone in the neighborhood was white. So now I was called a “Nigger Lover.” They made feel shame again. With no food to eat, I thought I would help out. So at age 13 ½ I ran away. Bad choices again. I returned home at age 15 and married! There would be more food for the other kids. Bad choice. My husband beat me daily. So I ran away again.
Wow! a handsome guy. I would love him and he would treat me like a queen. Then the beatings started and I had to have sex with all his friends. So I ran away again. This time I ran to the Avengers Motorcycle Club where I would be safe. Because I knew if you got picked and patched, I would be safe. Bad choice again and shame.
My boyfriend said we were going on vacation to New York. I asked to bring my younger sister. On Day 2 we wake up. Where is my boyfriend? He was gone, but where? What happened? I will tell you. We were sold for $500, that’s what. I was sent to Queens and my sister would stay on 63rd and Lexington Avenue. We were now both high class call girls. I got on drugs because that is the only way to live with the shame. Again I thought I would surely be picked by someone great because I was good looking. But it never happened.
So again I ran away. I would come back to Columbus and help other women. I would show them the way to survive without the beatings. We would make money for food, clothes and jewelry. But still this was wrong and felt shame.
Then God came to me. I would truly be saved. It was by His grace and mercy. God told me to open up His Hygiene Help Center. So all could have dignity without shame or bad choices. God is my life now and always my provider and my protector, He is everything I ever wanted or needed. God is my Savior and all the things I would ever need. Yes, yes, He is the only true way. My body, mind and soul now filled with happiness, love, joy, hugs, kisses and peace. Did I say love and all I would ever need just by loving God. I am now a princess. He is my King and Savior. All along, God was there for me. All I had to do was to believe, and I do!!
God’s Hygiene Help Center can save lives in more ways than one: hygiene, resources, food, prayer and sisterhood. Everything I could dream of–all from God. I will serve my Lord all the days of my life. If my story only saves one person, then so be it. In God’s name, it’s God’s will be done. No more shame!
When I turned 8, Mom and Dad broke up. My Mom had to go to prison for stabbing a woman and in 1967 you could not claim self defense. We kids were sent to the Children’s Home and again I felt shame. All my life I was ashamed, but not with God.
I was ashamed of Mom. After getting out of prison, she married a black man. One by one we kids were shipped up to New Jersey where everyone was black. Wow, not good! We were living in the poorest neighborhood where we were the only whites. We got beat up every day. I wanted to help all of us kids. By shame, at the age of 13, I gave myself to a 30 year old black man for protection. We had no Dad and Mom was at work. A man of color! What shame!
Then we moved to Columbus where everyone in the neighborhood was white. So now I was called a “Nigger Lover.” They made feel shame again. With no food to eat, I thought I would help out. So at age 13 ½ I ran away. Bad choices again. I returned home at age 15 and married! There would be more food for the other kids. Bad choice. My husband beat me daily. So I ran away again.
Wow! a handsome guy. I would love him and he would treat me like a queen. Then the beatings started and I had to have sex with all his friends. So I ran away again. This time I ran to the Avengers Motorcycle Club where I would be safe. Because I knew if you got picked and patched, I would be safe. Bad choice again and shame.
My boyfriend said we were going on vacation to New York. I asked to bring my younger sister. On Day 2 we wake up. Where is my boyfriend? He was gone, but where? What happened? I will tell you. We were sold for $500, that’s what. I was sent to Queens and my sister would stay on 63rd and Lexington Avenue. We were now both high class call girls. I got on drugs because that is the only way to live with the shame. Again I thought I would surely be picked by someone great because I was good looking. But it never happened.
So again I ran away. I would come back to Columbus and help other women. I would show them the way to survive without the beatings. We would make money for food, clothes and jewelry. But still this was wrong and felt shame.
Then God came to me. I would truly be saved. It was by His grace and mercy. God told me to open up His Hygiene Help Center. So all could have dignity without shame or bad choices. God is my life now and always my provider and my protector, He is everything I ever wanted or needed. God is my Savior and all the things I would ever need. Yes, yes, He is the only true way. My body, mind and soul now filled with happiness, love, joy, hugs, kisses and peace. Did I say love and all I would ever need just by loving God. I am now a princess. He is my King and Savior. All along, God was there for me. All I had to do was to believe, and I do!!
God’s Hygiene Help Center can save lives in more ways than one: hygiene, resources, food, prayer and sisterhood. Everything I could dream of–all from God. I will serve my Lord all the days of my life. If my story only saves one person, then so be it. In God’s name, it’s God’s will be done. No more shame!
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 New Living Translation (NLT)
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.
Isaiah 58:10-11 New Living Translation (NLT)
Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.
Isaiah 50:7. Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.
Psalm 25:2. I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.
Romans 5:5. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
1 Corinthians 9:17. If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust.
Deuteronomy 30:20. You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
Ephesians 2 New Living Translation (NLT) Made Alive with Christ 2 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.[a] He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
In February 2016 God gave me the words for a poem I would like to share with you:
ON MY MIND
GOD! Life!
Am I worthy of the Lord?
I pray so!
I know GOD picked me to serve Him.
Why? I ask. Why?
I’m not good; I’m a bad person
Are you sure you want me?
Yes, He said, yes!
You are the one for many reasons—I chose you!
I smiled, and then I said aloud
Are you sure it’s me you want?
Yes, He said, it’s you I want.
So raise your head up high!
Look at Me!
There are blessings you must have
It’s hard work, but for sure,
I pick you.
Please give these blessings out to others that
I’ll continue to send your way.
Pass them out!
Don’t’ forget to say:
not from me
Thank God this day!
By Tammy Jewell
GOD! Life!
Am I worthy of the Lord?
I pray so!
I know GOD picked me to serve Him.
Why? I ask. Why?
I’m not good; I’m a bad person
Are you sure you want me?
Yes, He said, yes!
You are the one for many reasons—I chose you!
I smiled, and then I said aloud
Are you sure it’s me you want?
Yes, He said, it’s you I want.
So raise your head up high!
Look at Me!
There are blessings you must have
It’s hard work, but for sure,
I pick you.
Please give these blessings out to others that
I’ll continue to send your way.
Pass them out!
Don’t’ forget to say:
not from me
Thank God this day!
By Tammy Jewell
Would you like a display and presentation at your church, club or school? Tammy is available to speak to your organization about growing up without dignity, being trafficked and how God told her to open up the Help Center. Her story is also available on You Tube which you can view with permission. Contact Diane Hendrickson, Vice President/Executive Assistant, or Terry Starr directly at godshygiene@gmail.com
Saint Paul Meet Tammy Jewell by Paul Nordman
Stonecroft Volunteer Spotlight Article
God’s Hygiene Help Center
Hygiene items by appointment
“where love wins”
God’s Hygiene Help Center is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization
Saint Paul Meet Tammy Jewell by Paul Nordman
Stonecroft Volunteer Spotlight Article
God’s Hygiene Help Center
Hygiene items by appointment
“where love wins”
God’s Hygiene Help Center is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization
