Pyramid Professional Resources started in August of 2005 with a few people interested in helping the homeless to find jobs. With the help of a number of volunteers, we painted an old youth room in the basement of Christ Church.  Many contributions of furniture, used computers and other donations enabled us to furnish the space. We began to offer services to our first group of clients in December 2005.  We provided a small breakfast snack, laundry facilities, personal lockers, computers and internet job search services, a newspaper, bus tokens, telephone and voice mail, resume preparation as well as classes and counseling on methods to find a job. 

Additional donations have enabled us to purchase breathalyzer and drug testing equipment  Fifty men and woman participated in the Pyramid Program in 2006 and we have seen 50 % of the persons we serve find jobs and housing. We are now planning our first reunion for clients.

Our Advisory Committee is planning a big reunion for all our past and present clients On August 15 from 5:30 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. We will have a fun filled meal with story telling, door prizes and  more.  It will be a great time to give additional social and spiritual support to our friends.

Chris found Christ while serving time in a penitentiary.  He studied his Bible and then started teaching a Bible Class while still incarcerated.  Chris came to PPR in December ’05 looking for work.  He had a history of working in construction and intended to find work in that field only to realize that he had been drinking alcohol to cover up the awful spasms in his lower back. Chris came to PPR and he states that “I was put flat on my back so that I could commit my life totally to Christ”.  At PPR, a board member arranged for Chris to be seen by a physician. The physician diagnosed him with a severe back injury that would not go away with surgery.  Chris applied for disability and was able to get it in an amazingly short time frame.  He was then able to find housing and though not working, he leads a productive life cooking meals for his homeless buddies, studying his Bible and teaching Bible classes. He now serves on our advisory committee.

Donations of used computers and miscellaneous computer parts left us with the need for someone to update old, old computers and then Bob Gibson came along.  Bob is a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd.  He is retired and teaching various computer classes in the Donovan Program of U.K.  Here every Monday and Friday morning he tweaks software, takes computers apart, pulls out wires and circuit boards and puts them all back together to keep the computers going.  We couldn’t do without you Bob!

PPR has started a Kroger Gift Card Program and we hope it will be a regular source of income.  How does it work?  One buys a Kroger gift card for $5.00.  This means that it has $5.00 worth of money on it.  On a regular basis one should go to the Service Desk at Kroger and add what ever amount one has budgeted for food or gas from your usual Credit Card.  This Gift Card can then be given to family members or children who can spend the money in the account as if it was a credit card. Simply refill your card monthly for a continued income of 5% for PPR.  We have sold 80 Kroger cards thus far.  If you would like one, call the PPR office 252-0521.

• Monies for Drug Prescriptions  ($300 per month)
• Web Design Services
• Volunteer Dental Care for Clients
• Volunteer Hairstyling Services

Pyramid offers clients access to a clothing bank thanks to volunteers who fixed up an old storage space. Hours of painting and carpeting the room, installing better lighting and adding many clothing racks, mirrors and shelves has created a wonderfully functional clothing closet. The Rotary Club of Lexington conducted a clothing drive which provided over 400 pieces of clothing. Many other donors gave us a great start in our clothes closet which has assisted many of our clients to dress appropriately for job interviews.

Thanks to the many churches and organizations who have supported us through funds and volunteers .

        Christ Church Cathedral

        Church of the Good Shepherd

        First United Methodist Church

        Imani Baptist Church

        St. Martha’s Episcopal Church

        Quest Community Church

        Second Presbyterian Church

        Shiloh Baptist Church

        Southland Christian Church

        McFarlan Machinery, LLC

        River Foundation

Thanks also to the many volunteers who have assisted with sorting and sizing clothing,  solving computer problems and who have counseled clients and taught classes

Mrs. Lori Bruner, President

Rev. Keith Barbour, Vice President

Ms. Diane Wiles, Secretary

Ms. Carroll Tarvin, Treasurer

Dr. Gil Daley

Mr. John Heinz

Mr. Tom Howard

Mrs. Ruth Mark

Mr. Michael Noyes

Rev. Willis Polk

John Carl Rinck

 

STAFF

Ruth Mark, RN; MHSA, Co-Director

John Carl Rinck, M.Ed., Human Resources Specialist

Did You Know that  many homeless people earn money by  working at jobs through day labor agencies? These agencies pay the same day for work performed that day but do not pay enough for a homeless person to work themselves out of homelessness.

Others earn money by selling their blood plasma and by “chanting” and holding signs at union construction sites protesting ...This may buy cigarettes, but is not an appropriate way to earn a living.  Soooo . . . if you know of jobs available in the community, please call us at 252-0521 and we will give this information to our clients.