Help Us Water the Seed
The Biblical parable tells of a tiny mustard seed that can grow into a plant large enough to provide shelter for many birds. But no seed will survive, let alone grow, without the right amount of water, nutrients and sunshine.
The Friends of Mustard Seed Shelter are like the faithful farmers or gardeners who keep our Shelter alive and flourishing – even in the toughest environments. They help support the Shelter through an annual membership commitment and they keep our guests in their daily prayers. Please consider becoming a Friend.
Annual Membership Commitment
$50 min. Individuals
$500 min. Churches/Organizations
You may choose to give annually or spread the donation through the year in quarterly or monthly payments. Automatic payments may also be set up via PayPal here on our website by clicking the link below.
Friends are encouraged to invite others in their networks to also become Friends to ensure the Shelter’s continued support and growth. Friends receive regular updates highlighting Shelter accomplishments and guest success stories. Through those stories and through connecting and praying with other Friends, they can witness and share in the excitement of personal transformations – as guests start to heal and make a better life for themselves and their children.
Friends Spotlight
Even before we began our official “Friends” program, loyal friends of Mustard Seed Shelter have showed great love to Mustard Seed through traditions with their friends and family. Here’s one special example.
Ryan Yockey was just 13 years old and a freshman in high school when he and his friends began an annual tradition of combining a holiday party with collecting food and other items for neighbors in need. Ryan says his family and many of his friends’ families have always enjoyed doing things like adopting a family for Christmas. When he was 13, Ryan and his friends got together and celebrated “FriendsMas” and adopted a family. The next year, they moved the party up a few weeks, renamed it FriendsGiving and collected food and household products, which they then donated to Mustard Seed.
We talked with Ryan after the group’s celebration in 2020, which was virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. His brother Nolan, who was a sophomore in high school, got things started because Ryan was away at school. “In other years, we’d have 15-20 high school friends – they’d come over, bring gifts and donations, we’d catch up, my mom would make food, then we’d hang out and play games,” Ryan said. “Amy from Mustard Seed might come over and talk to my friends about Mustard Seed. One year, she brought a former guest.”
Ryan said his dad went to school with Amy. “That’s probably how I first learned about Mustard Seed,” he said. “When we held our first FriendsGiving, we were looking for a place to help out. Aside from knowing Amy, we liked that Mustard Seed is a place for women and children, that they don’t have a set timeline, and families can stay as long as they need. We love how much Mustard Seed helps people.”
In 2020, when Ryan’s and Nolan’s friends dropped off donations, they took photos with their Mustard Seed FriendsGiving sign and picked up some snacks they were able to enjoy together afterward when they joined a Zoom call to chat and play games on the computer. “Some people joined from out of state,” he said. “It was just nice to see everyone.”
When asked what he would recommend to others wanting to start something similar, Ryan said, “Just add to a tradition you already have! It’s not that hard to do and makes a big difference.”
