Vessels of Mercy International, Inc.
Hope Changes Everything!
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
VOMI is a worldwide charitable relief and development organization that alleviates poverty and human suffering by providing practical assistance and offering hope through the gospel of Jesus Christ.\n\nVOMI is a leading provider of practical assistance to those in need, both at home and around the world. We respond to God’s leading in obedience to know Him and make Him known to the forgotten, discarded, vulnerable, hopeless, and unloved. We unite the body of Christ through strategic partnerships with diverse organizations, serving shoulder to shoulder to equip people to be self-sustaining and reach their God-given potential. We empower those we serve with the gospel of Christ to transform their families, communities, and nations.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Inner City Outreach - Richmond Metro Area
Vessels of Mercy's Inner City Outreach program strives to reach at-risk youth in Gilpin Court, Creighton Court, Mosby Court, Whitcomb and Fairfield Court. Many of these children and youth have nowhere to go and no alternatives to the streets and gang activity. We provide activities such as mentoring , sports, crafts, and educational programs. During the holidays we provide food, clothes, shoes, coats, blankets, heaters and toys to individuals and families.
Medical, Dental and Vision Clinics
Our Relief Outreach includes providing medical, dental and vision clinics to over 13 countries. In many nations people have limited to no access to medical care and must walk for hours to get to the nearest hospital or clinic and can't afford it once they arrive. That's why we're helping provide health care to poverty-stricken nations like Kenya, Guatemala, Haiti, Cambodia, Nicaragua and Honduras.
Disaster Relief
Natural and man-made disasters turn millions of lives upside down every year. Vessels of Mercy International is able to quickly bring emergency relief to survivors who are suffering the effects of disasters such as tsunamis, hurricanes, tornados, floods, disease, war and famine. Vessels of Mercy International is equipped to provide practical assistance as well as trauma counselors and chaplains.
Clean Water and Sanitation
Over 25% of humanity is subjected daily to drinking polluted or unsanitary water. Vessels of Mercy strives to bring clean, safe water to people in need. We work with international partners to provide life-giving water through new wells. We help dig and drill wells; provide pumps; repair broken hand pumps; construct latrines and water filtration systems; irrigate crops---whatever communities need most, allowing them to experience a new way of life.
Children and Youth in Crisis
Vessels of Mercy works here in the United States and around the world to reach out and help children and youth in crisis by providing food, clothing, shoes, educational programs and housing sponsorship programs. We work with orphans in over 13 countries, and provide life's essentials to impoverished children in the Richmond Metro Area. In addition, we are working to stop human trafficking. We intervene and provide care packages for children and women rescued and help them transition into an aftercare program sponsored by Vessels of Mercy or one of our partner agencies.
Soar-Sustainable Hygiene Kit Distribution and Education
We provide sustainable feminine hygiene kits to school aged girls. We also provide awareness and prevention for gender based violence.
Where we work
Accreditations
Better Business Bureau of Central VA - Accredited Charity 2005
Awards
External reviews
Photos
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
VOMI is a leading provider of practical assistance to those in need, both at home and around the world. We respond to God’s leading in obedience to know Him and make Him known to the forgotten, discarded, vulnerable, hopeless, and unloved. We unite the body of Christ through strategic partnerships with diverse organizations, serving shoulder to shoulder to equip people to be self-sustaining and reach their God-given potential. We empower those we serve with the gospel of Christ to transform their families, communities, and nations.\nVOMI is just as passionate about reaching those in need right in their own backyard as it is about reaching those in need around the world. While it provides agricultural development in Kenya, Romania, Honduras, and Cambodia, its staff and volunteers also offer hope to inner-city children living in poverty in Richmond and sends relief teams to assist victims of hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods in the United States as well as around the world.\nFor 25 years, VOMI has championed the causes of the poor and oppressed by putting hands and feet to the beliefs that "Hope Changes Everything" and that hope is found in Jesus.\nTo put it simply, “We help those in need.” Every day we meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those in the United States and 12 other nations of the world, helping them reach their full potential. We serve all people regardless of age, race, color, creed, sex, religion, social, national or ethnic origin, and sexual orientation.\n\nPrograms include, but not limited to: Vocational, educational, medical/vision/dental care, disaster relief, children's mentoring, distribution of relief supplies, clean water projects, agriculture & small livestock, assisting women and children in crisis, prevention and awareness of gender based violence and human trafficking, assisting refugees and IDP groups, re-education of incarcerated women, after care programs for abused or trafficked women and children, and various other programs as determined.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Vessels of Mercy International focuses on providing physical relief to individuals, families, and communities, those living in extreme poverty, suffering from hunger, oppression, and spiritual poverty, but also equipping beneficiaries with sustainable solutions to combat poverty and move individuals from life-threatening suffering to a place of sustained security. Through various strategic tools such as but not limited to: agriculture, education, disaster relief, life-skills training, vocational training, safe water and sanitation, shelter, health prevention and treatment, spiritual development, sustainable hygiene kit distribution, educational programs for gender-based violence awareness and prevention, Human trafficking and slavery prevention and awareness; aftercare programs, discipleship, recreational, feeding programs, and holistic community development, Vessels of Mercy International is committed to helping the impoverished, the underserved, and the under-resourced. We’re committed to the power of partnerships, working side by side with those in the communities we serve, instead of telling them what we think they need, addressing the core issues behind poverty, rather than only treating the symptoms. We will engage with empathy those we serve to find pathways out of poverty; we will encourage, embrace, educate, explore, and empower them. We will provide options and opportunities for ongoing growth to overcome the challenges that poverty presents to enrich their lives. We will do so in a way that is holistic, with humility, with a hands-on approach, creating harmony and unity.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Vessels of Mercy International has staff and volunteers that mobilize in the community to distribute food products and relief supplies such as hygiene kits, socks, blankets, coats, hats, shoes, scarfs, and gloves to those in need in our local area, with a focus on children at risk, the elderly, and veterans. VOMI Larry’s Lunch is the conduit that feeds individuals and families through a network of pastors and missionaries as well as distributing disaster relief supplies during significant disasters worldwide. VOMI’s experienced relief teams and medical teams use these relief supplies to provide emergency responses and long-term recovery to victims affected by poverty and natural disaster whether it be through war, disaster, or persecution. We have a long history of diverse partnerships and coordinating with other nonprofit relief agencies, missionaries and/or pastors as each specific need arises, we are able to provide food, shelter, clothing, water, medical assistance, hygiene kits, practical disaster aid, and other humanitarian aid relief services on a very targeted basis, promoting and assisting those we serve to become self-sustaining.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
It is well known among nonprofit professionals that an organization succeeds because of its longevity, unique programs and services, and fiscal stability. VOMI rises to the top in each of these categories.\n\n• Longevity – VOMI has been in existence since 1995.\n• Uniqueness – No other Virginia organization provides this breadth of programming.\n• Viability (Fiscal Stability) – Since 1995, it has enriched, supported, and nurtured upwards of 400,000 lives with loving, practical assistance, all with a very modest staff and lean (but balanced) operating budget.\n\nAcross the world, Vessels of Mercy International has impacted impoverished communities and vulnerable people groups through a variety of relief and development projects/programs including but not limited to: Animals, Agriculture; Children's programs; Disaster relief services; Empowering young women through our sustainable hygiene kit distribution to school-aged girls increasing their ability to access educational opportunities; Educational programs for gender-based violence awareness and prevention; Human trafficking and slavery prevention and awareness; Aftercare programs; Discipleship; Education; Recreational; Vocational Training; Feeding programs; Health and Medical Relief programs; Clean Water and Sanitation. \n\nVessels of Mercy International will continue to use these strategic tools to bring physical and spiritual aid to hurting people around the world in Jesus' name — as we've done since our inception in 1995. With dependable capabilities and innovative strategies such as the Widows Goat Project, the SOAR Hygiene Kit Distribution Project, the Threads of Hope Project, and Operation Hope, we will continue to expand our positioning on the frontlines of relief and development for the purpose of bringing hope and healing through humanitarian aid in the name of Jesus Christ.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Vessels of Mercy International, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 08/01/2023
Miss Donna Jarrell
Community Volunteer
Term: 2021 - 2024
Miss Cerena Griffith
Volunteer
Term: 2021 - 2024
Debra Davenport
Geara Group
Beverly Gibson
Vessels of Mercy International
Brenda Raney
VP
Cerena Griffith
Volunteer
Joan Sties
Volunteer
Donna Jarrel
Virginia Commonwealth Health System
Kim Alford
South University PHD
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
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Gender identity
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Transgender Identity
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Sexual orientation
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Disability
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