The community’s
emergency room for life’s crises
BY INEZ KIRCHNER
B E A CON W R I T E R
If you break your leg falling off a
ladder, the next decision is easy: get to
the ER. But what if your crisis is
emotional, spiritual or complicated?
“When you’ve just had a job loss or
your husband has left you, you don’t
know which specialist to see. You go
to the ER who says ‘yes’ to your health
crisis today and then gets you long-
term help,” says Dawn White-Fosdick,
executive director of the Christian
Assistance Ministry (CAM). “CAM does
this for life crises.”
CAM’s mission
is to share the love
of Christ by providing
immediate
assistance and
encouragement to
people in crisis.
The people who
benefit from CAM’s
services may be
experiencing a
one-time crisis or
something more
long-term due to
“ When you harvest
the crops on your
land, do not cut all
the way to the
corners of your field.
Don’t pick up the
grain that falls on
the ground. Leave it
for the poor…”
– Leviticus 23:22
poverty, mental or physical illness. Or,
maybe they are just in need of mercy,
Ruby came into CAM with her mom.
They needed food and help to pay a
high utility bill. Ruby’s mom worked
but was struggling to make ends
meet. We were also able to sign up
Ruby for our Annual Back to School
program saving her mom over
$100 on school supplies, backpack,
underwear, socks, shoes and school
uniforms.
Ruby is one of approximately
14,000 children that CAM serves
annually often with very basic needs
like underwear, socks, baby formula
or diapers.
and will need a lifetime of help.
More than 42 years ago, nine
churches in downtown San Antonio
banded together to leverage their
efforts and resources to address the
grave social ills in the local community.
When a homeless man was found dead
on one of the church’s doorsteps, the
churches asked how they could make a
difference not only abroad, but also in
their neighborhoods. How could they
do better?
Decades later, the mission of CAM
remains the same, and its network has
grown to more than 80 churches in the
greater San Antonio area. They serve
50,000 people annually. CAM offers
food, clothing and basic necessities, as
well as resources to pay a bill, fill a
prescription or get IDs and other
documents. CAM even provides a free
mailbox for those who don’t have a
physical residence. Christ is always at
the center and CAM’s services offer
true grace in action.
Mary Ellen, a former client, came to
CAM when she was homeless and
benefited from clothing, financial
assistance, and spiritual guidance. She
now has a job and her own apartment.
Sonia was a young, single mother in
need of diapers and food. She is
currently a CAM volunteer and gives
back what was given to her. “When I
came here it wasn’t just the assistance
– it was the love of Christ that made an
imprint on my heart,” says Sonia.
“ Punchdown Telecommunications believes we have a
responsibility to bless others in our community. That
is why we partner with and are thankful for CAM.
They touch lives in powerful ways every single day.
They are on the front lines and often the first stop for
those that face unimaginable situations.
Please join us in supporting their
efforts. Together, we can change
even more lives!“ Randy Ramirez,
Owner Punchdown Telecommunications
16 www.saBeacon.com March / April 2019
/www.saBeacon.com