ABOUT US

It Started With a Driveway

A few years ago, the Red Cross contacted a local snow removal company and asked if they could plow a driveway for an older gentleman who needed some help. The owner agreed, and what started as a simple favor became something of a routine. Whenever the snow reached six inches or more, he would make the trip up to the man's home and plow him out.

Then one day, the phone rang.

The older gentleman's wife had become seriously ill and had been placed in hospice care. He explained that he had been sitting at home alone for nine days without anyone to talk to. He wasn't asking for money or looking for someone to fix something. He just needed somebody to talk to about what was happening in his life.

So they talked.

Over time, the calls became more frequent, and so did the visits. His wife passed away shortly afterward, and somewhere along the way, the older gentleman went from being someone whose driveway needed plowing to being a friend. He even attended church with his new friend a few times.

Eventually, another need surfaced. The man's home was headed toward foreclosure. His wife had always managed their finances, and things had begun slipping even before she became ill. Another friend, a financial advisor, stepped in and helped get the foreclosure stopped while they worked through the situation.

What began with a driveway had become a friendship involving several people, each helping in whatever way they could.

Some time later, the older gentleman suffered a heart attack and passed away.

His death left a lasting impression on the two friends who had come alongside him. The experience raised some uncomfortable questions about how easily people can become isolated and overlooked, even in communities filled with people who would gladly help if they only knew there was a need.

We live in a relatively comfortable culture. Sometimes that comfort makes it easy to overlook the struggles of people living right around us.

Not necessarily people looking for a handout.

Sometimes people just need a hand.

There are people who need someone to talk to once in a while. Someone to have lunch with. Someone to notice that their fence is falling down and they can't afford to repair it. Someone to help clean up the yard, shovel the driveway, pick up groceries, or simply sit across the table and listen.

There are older people entering the final chapters of their lives who have no idea how they're going to make the next mortgage or rent payment, straighten out their finances, repair something that's broken, or simply navigate life alone.

There are younger people and families who have lost hope because the car they depend on has broken down, an unexpected expense has overwhelmed them, or life has simply become more than they can manage by themselves.

And sometimes the greatest need isn't financial or physical at all.

Sometimes it's loneliness.

Sometimes it's grief.

Sometimes it's simply knowing that somebody cares enough to show up.

Out of that experience came the idea for Mark 2 Initiative, an idea built around a simple principle:

Neighbors Helping Neighbors.

The idea is to connect people who need help with people who are willing and able to provide it.

Maybe that means putting together a crew to repair a fence, clean up a yard, haul away some junk, or help with a broken-down vehicle. Maybe it means finding someone with the right experience to help navigate a difficult situation or connecting a neighbor with resources that already exist.

And sometimes it might mean not fixing anything at all.

Maybe it means making a phone call, sharing a meal, listening, offering prayer, or reminding someone that they haven't been forgotten.

The vision is for local churches to become centers of this effort, bringing together people from their congregations and surrounding communities who are willing to help.

Because the truth is, most communities already have people with the skills, time, resources, and compassion to make a difference. They also have people who are quietly struggling.

Often, what's missing is the connection between the two.

That's what Mark 2 Initiative hopes to change.

You don't need a lot of money or special qualifications. You simply need to be willing to help in whatever way you're able.

And if you're the one who needs a hand, or you know somebody who does, Mark 2 Initiative would like to hear from you.

Sometimes people need a hand. Sometimes they need a hug. Sometimes they just need somebody to notice that they're struggling and remind them they aren't alone.

After all, we're all in this together.

Let's carry a few mats.

Grab a corner.

Our Mission
Mark 2 Initiative connects people who need a hand with neighbors willing to grab a corner and help carry the load.

Our Vision
We want to build communities where fewer people struggle alone.

Our vision is to see ordinary people recognize the needs around them and use whatever God has placed in their hands to help. A shovel. A toolbox. A meal. A truck. Professional experience. A phone call. A prayer. Sometimes just a little time.

Nobody has to do everything. But almost everybody can do something.

Nobody has to carry the whole mat.

How It Works
Someone needs a hand. Someone else has the ability to help. Mark 2 Initiative simply tries to connect the two.

We aren’t trying to become a giant service organization. We’re trying to become better neighbors.

See a need. Grab a corner. Carry it together.