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If you would like to get in touch with Mercy’s Shore, please complete the information below. We are always happy to hear from you and look forward to forming a relationship that reunites children with their moms while helping you achieve your objective of serving “the least of these.” We will be back in touch with you soon!
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does Mercy's Shore serve?
We can serve children between the ages of birth and 12 years and their previously incarcerated moms.
Is there a real need for mercy's shore?
Yes! There are about 13,000 women in Texas Prisons. It is reported that 98% of those women will be released from prison at some point. Of those women, approximately 70% have children. In addition, there are approximately 8,000 women in Texas county jails. When the moms exit prison or county jail, they will likely recover custody and possession of their children. Though the penal system is arguably designed to improve the chances of success of women upon release, many of the women do not internalize what they learn.
How do the children benefit from Mercy's Shore?
The greatest benefit to the children is, of course, getting their mom back. They also have a safe, stable, clean place to live while they are paticipating in the program. All school-aged children receive weekly counseling appropriate to their age and issues from a licensed professional counselor. While their moms are in evening classes, the children participate in Children’s Ministry activities and, during the summer months, the children are eligible to take part in various camps. Every child’s and mom’s birthday is celebrated during their birth month, with all the usual goodies and a present or two.
When they leave prison, what do the Moms bring with them to Mercy's Shore?
When released from prison on parole, they have a small sack of personal items, a $50 check from the State of Texas, an extensive collection of “burned bridges”, a bus ticket to their parole city and little more.
Does Mercy's Shore serve men or single women?
Mercy’s Shore has had to limit the number of people served because of space and financial constraints. Children are the innocent victims of poor choices made by others and are in the greatest need because they cannot provide for themselves. As a result, Mercy’s Shore is only able to serve children ages up to 12 and their previously incarcerated, single moms.
Why not just let the previously incarcerated moms take care of themselves when they get out of prison?
While the moms did make their poor decisions, the children did not. To provide the children with a chance to avoid a future of marginalization and struggle because of those poor decisions, intervention in the lives of their moms is essential. The greatest service we can provide to the children is to give their healthy and whole moms back to them.