Hillcrest-Bruce Mission

Our Mission is to alleviate the suffering caused by poverty by providing wrap-around services by Showing Compassion, Providing Health Assistance,  Providing Education & Employment Assistance and Providing Social & Spiritual Programming to help our neighbors become self-sufficient.

Loving Our Neighbors - Founded in 1971 and born in the basement of Christ United Methodist Church, we serve our neighbors in Boyd County, Kentucky, and beyond. We exist to feed the sheep, do for the least of these, and show mercy to our neighbors. We do this by showing compassion, providing health, educational, and employment assistance, and providing social and spiritual programming. This provides stability, creates relationships, and opens the door to sharing the love of Jesus.

Showing Compassion - Last year, we delivered food to homebound seniors 3,701 times (a 23% increase). Individuals received food (including milk, eggs, meat, canned goods, fresh produce, and bread) 9,396 times (a 17% increase). They also received help with housing, transportation, child care, clothing & shoes, cleaning, hygiene & diapers, bedding, kitchenware, housewares and furniture. For the holidays, 327 families received Thanksgiving food baskets, 198 children and 185 seniors received Christmas gifts, and over 16,755 items were sold at our Christmas Store, allowing families to buy gifts for loved ones at greatly reduced prices.

Providing Health Assistance - Last year, 37 neighbors gained the confidence and ability to lead healthier lives, attend school, and seek employment. Missing teeth or dentures affects nutrition and self-esteem, making it harder to pursue education or jobs. Our volunteers coordinate and provide health care assistance through the Good Samaritan Grant and other funding sources. We provide HIV and Hep C testing, onsite counseling and therapy, a women’s AA group, Narcotics Anonymous groups, peer support and recovery, NARCAN training, and insurance information. This year we added on-site dental services - x-rays, exams, cleanings, extractions, oral surgery, and dentures. We are the only dental provider taking Medicaid in the county and saw 1,450 patients last year.

Providing Education & Employment Assistance - Last year, one more neighbor earned their GED, 12 more obtained a driver’s permit or license, five more earned Peer Support Certification, 13 more started college, 13 more graduated college, 38 more secured jobs, and five more became homeowners. We share God’s love, provide mentors, and support their education, believing that education and training lead to jobs with living wages—helping people break free from generational and situational poverty. Our programs include a free preschool, adult education, academic advising, FAFSA assistance, application and scholarship support, tax preparation, job readiness training, and financial literacy education.

Providing Social & Spiritual Programming - We offer a Ladies Weekly Bible Study, Women’s Monthly Bible Study, Crafting Group, Bingo, and Vacation Bible School. We sent one kid to Aldersgate Camp! Many previously unchurched individuals now attend church, and five were baptized last year.