Rev. James Lewis (l) and Williams Stiles, Sr. watch as professionals remove the air conditioning units. At a time when Savannah is experiencing an epidemic of vandalism where petty criminals destroy air conditioning units for a few dollars of copper, the officials of Carver State Bank found a better use for three (3) excess air conditioning units…they donated them to the Old Savannah City Mission.

Two of the donated units are already being used to cool the Mission's warehouse where workers receive and sort donated clothing and other items that are sold in its thrift store, donated to needed families, or bundled for sale in Third World Countries.

The donated air conditioning units were in a building that the bank occupied until it was damaged by fire on January 3, 2006. "The architects at Gunn, Meyerhoff, Shay told us that when the building is repaired, the new design will require new equipment, so we are pleased that the Old Savannah City Mission can put these air conditioning units to use," said Carver President Robert E. James.

This is not the first time that Carver State Bank has found a way to assist the Mission. During January of this year, Carver State Bank Vice President Claudia Clarke informed the Mission's officials that a $250,000 grant was approved that will help expand the Mission's Fresh Start Program. Carver allowed the Mission to use its affiliation with the Federal Home Loan Bank to apply for the grant.

The Fresh Start Program targets men who while incarcerated, come to faith in Christ and demonstrate a genuine desire for a "Fresh Start" in life. Old Savannah City Mission is working diligently to stem the tide of ex-offenders returning to prison. Statistics show that nearly 70% of all inmates who are released from prison return to jail within three years.

According to Rev. Jim Lewis, Executive director of the Old Savannah City Mission, "the Fresh Start Program began in 2006 and is a bridge from incarceration to a place in the community." The program provides transitional housing for some of these men in a duplex on West 59th Street. The Federal Home Loan Bank grant will help provide at least twenty additional dormitory units to expand the program.

Old Savannah City Mission is Savannah's only Five Star Gospel Rescue Mission. Its goal is to change lives through proclaiming the Gospel, feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, rehabilitating the addict and restoring the exoffender. Old Savannah City Mission is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt organization that neither requests, nor receives any federal government, state, or local tax-payer money.

The Mission subsists solely on donations from individuals, churches, businesses, and foundations. Financial support is welcomed and needed. Individuals who wish to make donations or would like additional information about the Old Savannah City Mission should call Connell Stiles at 912-232-2979.