Our Story
In the beginning...
In 2022 we were approached by a donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, to pray about how we can make a difference in the lives of those who need support and guidance out of hardship and poverty in Ionia. This individual set up a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) under the name of Misericordia in Action (MIA) to provide our dream with a seed fund to get us going.
Guided by the Holy Spirit
No one wakes up in the morning and tells themself that they want to become homeless or to struggle to feed their family. Since prayer has been our driving force throughout our entire planning process for Clavers Companions Inc we asked the Holy Spirit for guidance. We were led to St. Peter Claver whose life became an example for us to follow.
People in hardship and poverty struggle to find their way out. They, in essence, become a slave to their situation. It affects their physical health, their mental health, and their spiritual health. Their hardship holds them hostage. St. Peter Claver was a 17th-century Jesuit priest who ministered to the slaves in Cartagena, Colombia. He provided them with medicine, food, water and other essential supplies. He became a 'slave of the slaves' by his heroic witness to the dignity of every human being.
We want to embody the charity that St. Peter Claver gave to the slaves he ministered to when we serve the Ionia community. He loved them by showing them how their current situation doesn't define who they are. No matter what someone's past contains, their future is yet to be determined. They deserve charity and love simply by being created in God's image
After many months of praying and learning what are the biggest needs in the Ionia community, MIA and Clavers Companions Inc had come to a conclusion. We must help people learn how to help themselves.
Our Solution
What better way to help people out of the slavery of poverty than to teach them how to manage their lives more effectively? Through teaching life skills and finance related classes we can empower families to live on a healthy budget, maintain necessities of life (like housing, heat, electrical, etc.) and better themselves to an affluent lifestyle.
Why teach?
It is very hard for people when they have to ask for assistance to make ends meet financially. We've worked in ministry for many years and have talked to hundreds of people who are broken to the point of tears because they couldn't do it themself and they can't afford to have someone else do it.
Teaching someone to be able to fix their own plumbing or repair their favorite pair pants not only increases their knowledge but it also increases their confidence. By learning these skills the families are able to make their food budget go farther, save money on professional serves, and live a healthier and more prosperous life.
We Put the Fun in Funding
We had our solution, but the next step on our journey was funding. Even though the class is free to attend there is a cost for supplies, space, presenters, and more. Since education of skills is our primary goal to help our community we decided to offer entertainment classes too. The profit from the entertainment classes would generate the funding needed to offer the skills classes for free.
Foster your creativity, connect with friends and family, meet new people with similar interests and more. Make a night of it. Grab some dinner at one of our amazing downtown restaurants and then come have some fun while learning a new talent. Consider the opportunities our class can provide; use it as a team bonding experience, to connect more with your kids, to have a girls night out, to get together with the guys or bring your office staff for community building. If you are interested in having a team event hosted by Clavers Companions Inc to support our mission, please contact us.
Community Support
Our classes are taught by local individuals or business leaders who specialize in the trades or skills being shared. Through partnership with the Ionia community we are able to reduce the cost of these free classes dramatically.
We also rely on individual and business support through financial donations and pledges. Clavers Companions Inc is a registered 501(c)3 organization which allows all of your gifts to qualify as a tax deductible donation.