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Photos courtesy of Family Unification Network, Inc.
Photo of Edd Sanders delivering donated items to tornado victims in 2011.
By Editor Becky Watts
ZEBULON - Family Unification Network, Inc. is a non-profit ministry that needs your help to reach out to men and women who are incarcerated in prisons throughout the state of Georgia by participating in the 2015 Dial Soap Drive.
Jo Ann Cash is the Founder and Executive Director of Family Unification Network. She spoke at a meeting of the Pike County Board of Commissioners in July in honor of Edd Sanders and told commissioners how Edd Sanders and Chaplain Don Bowen ministered to her while she was an inmate at the West Central Georgia Prison (now the West Central Integrated Treatment Facility) and, after her release, they trained her so she could go back into prisons in our state and minister to those “living behind the walls.”
Jo Ann said that Edd Sanders was a person who believed in giving someone a second chance and asked for help from the community in collecting and sending soap into the prisons in memory of her friend, Edd Sanders because Edd was an Advisory Board Member for Family Unification Network, Inc. as well as her friend.
Edd Sanders worked for the Georgia Department of Corrections for 30 years and was Warden of the West Central Georgia Integrated Treatment Facility in Zebulon. He was served on the Board of Directors for the Department of Family and Children's Services and Promise Place and was also an active member of the Pike County Kiwanis Club and the Pike County Lions Club. Edd passed away one year ago.
The 2014 Dial Soap Drive brought together donations of 42,564 bath size bars of Dial Soap (4 ounce) from people living in 46 different cities throughout Georgia and delivered them to 24 prisons to minister to men and women who are incarcerated throughout the state the Georgia. 152,361 bath size bars of soap have been distributed so far through this ministry over the past 6 years.
How does it work? Individuals, groups, and churches work together to raise funds and collect 4 ounce sized bars of Dial Soap. Then a Packing Party is held to pray for those who will receive the soap and place a mailing label with a verse of scripture and the name of the donating organization upon each bar of soap. Family Unification Network then works with Don Bainbridge, Executive Director of Burning Bush Ministries to deliver the soap to inmates around Christmas.
The goal for this year is to donate 65,000 bars of 4 ounce Dial Soap and make a difference in the lives of those who receive them. Rev. Roy Williams in the State Coordinator for this year’s Dial Soap Drive. He can be reached at 404-580-2781 or rleewilliams@bellsouth.net. Jo Ann can also be reached at 678-379-7389 or cash20@peoplepc.com. Jo Ann Cash told Pike County Times that she will make arrangements for someone to come to Pike County to pick up donations so that those bars of soap will bear the name of Edd Sanders and honor him as she continues reaching out to others who are incarcerated throughout the state. The deadline for Jo Ann to pick up Pike County donations is October 1st. The big packing party will be held on October 15th. More information about this is on the website listed below.
You can make a difference in the lives of “the least of these” and read more about this ministry by visiting https://familyunificationnetwork.wordpress.com. Tax deductible donations can be made on the website via PayPal or mailed to Family Unification Network, Inc. (F.U.N.), P.O. Box 3, Union City, GA. 30291.
“For I was an hungred and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in. Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” – Matt. 25:35-36.
