Tag: faith in action

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Carrying on a Tradition of Compassion: Nursing Home Visits with Mays Mission

Images of Mays Mission Veterans Home visits and Nursing Home visits

At Mays Mission for the Handicapped, one of our most cherished traditions is visiting residents at Veterans Homes and nursing facilities—a mission that began many years ago with our founder, Ewing Mays.

Ewing Mays, a double amputee and World War II veteran, lost both legs during a mortar explosion in Sicily. But he never lost his spirit. Throughout his life, Ewing remained committed to uplifting others, especially wounded soldiers and disabled veterans. He believed deeply in the power of human connection, compassion, and hope. His visits to veterans hospitals and nursing homes were more than just acts of kindness—they were powerful reminders that no one is forgotten.

Today, we are proud to continue that tradition.

This year, Mays Mission has sent out countless ‘Gift Paks’—hand-assembled by our employees with disabilities—to volunteers across the country to distribute to nursing home and veterans home residents. Each Gift Pak includes thoughtful items like stationery and writing supplies, created with care by individuals in our on-the-job training program. These small tokens of kindness often spark big smiles and meaningful conversations.

Closer to home, our team members, Vince and David, have made it a regular practice to visit veterans at a local nursing home every few weeks. These visits are filled with laughter, shared stories, and a genuine bond formed over topics like fishing and baseball. For David, who is also part of our job training program, these visits are especially fulfilling. “It just makes me feel good,” he says. “You can tell they appreciate it, and I always leave feeling better myself.”

We believe that everyone has the power to brighten someone’s day. Even a short visit or a friendly conversation can make a lasting difference to someone who may be feeling lonely or forgotten.

We encourage you—yes, you—to consider reaching out in your own community. If you’re interested in learning more about volunteering, we’d be happy to send you a free copy of our brochure, The Spirit of Giving. And if you’d like to join us in distributing ‘Gift Paks’ to residents in your area, we’d love to hear from you.

You can reach us at info@maysmission.org or give us a call. Together, we can continue this beautiful tradition of compassion, connection, and care—just as Ewing Mays intended.

Thank you for your support, and for helping us share hope, one visit at a time.

Mays Mission volunteers visiting a disabled veteran in a veterans home

Visiting nursing homes will bring smiles to the faces of some lonely people. 

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April is National Volunteer Month

A photo featuring Mays Mission employees at the special Olympics and a phot from one of our Veterans Home Tours

April is National Volunteer Month and the week of April 20th-26th 2025 has been set aside as National Volunteer Week.  This year, as in all previous years, we have the opportunity to recognize those within our communities who freely give their time in unpaid work.

National Volunteer Week was established by Presidential Proclamation in 1974 as a way of honoring these amazing volunteers and thanking them for donating their time to charitable causes and to bring attention to services that wouldn’t exist otherwise.

The spirit of volunteerism is alive and well in the U.S.  In 2018 the U.S. Department of Labor reports that over 77.3 million people volunteered through an organization at least once.  And there are undoubtedly millions more who did volunteer works without doing so through a formal organization.

Mays Mission for the Handicapped has long recognized the importance of volunteers.  Since 1997 we have supported a Faith in Action Caregivers Alliance in which we call upon volunteers within our community to provide caregiving and other services to the frail elderly and disabled.  This program could not have succeeded without volunteers.

Mays Mission employees have also volunteered to help other organizations thereby helping to foster and support the spirit of volunteerism within our local community.

This April would be a great time to volunteer in your community. Your time is a gift! If you need some ideas on how to help, on Monday Mays Mission employees visited with veterans at a nursing home passing out some of our ‘gift paks’ containing stationary and the residents loved it. We can also provide you with free brochures full of ideas and information like ‘The Spirit of Volunteerism’ and ‘Faith In Action Caregivers Alliance’ at no cost to you. These brochures were produced by employees with disabilities here at Mays Mission who would love for you to have them. Just call us or email us at info@maysmission.org and let us know. Thank you!

A photo from one of our Veteran's Home tours visiting with veterans with disabilities
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February is “Heart Awareness Month”

An active older woman making a heart gesture

February is “Heart Awareness Month” and Valentine’s Day brings to mind a time to show our love to those we care about. In addition, February has become associated with the Random Acts of Kindness program. Random acts of kindness are especially appreciated by caregivers, the elderly and those in hospitals and nursing homes.

Here are some suggestions to make this a special time of year. Most can be adapted to individuals as well as the various care facilities in your community:

              Volunteer to read out loud to individuals or care                             facility groups.

              Drop in for a chat and bring a treat such as a                                   ready-to-heat casserole.

              Arrange for a two-hour housecleaning session.

              Volunteer to take an elderly neighbor out to run                              errands.

              Send scenic postcards to patients in a local care                              facility that don’t have any relatives.

              If you have musical talents, volunteer to lead a                               sing-along session at a local care facility.

              Enjoy baking? Drop off a plate of cookies or some                          cupcakes.

              Enjoy gardening? Help a neighbor plant or weed                             their garden.

For more great ideas on volunteering call us or email us at info@maysmission.org for free copies of our brochures ‘Faith In Action Care Givers Alliance’ or ‘The Spirit of Volunteerism’ today. These brochures were produced by employees with disabilities here at Mays Mission for the Handicapped.

a photo of a camper from our summer camp program and photos of smiling Mays Mission employees from our job training program
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The Ewing W. Mays Mission

Pictures of our founder Ewing Mays through the years, including Mays visiting wounded soldiers and meeting with President Truman

Ewing W. Mays always remained strong in his belief that there were many goals yet unaccomplished for the Mission. The founder of the Mission was familiar with continuing needs for appropriate housing, jobs, therapy and spiritual guidance for the handicapped. He was dedicated towards these goals.

 Mays Mission for the Handicapped, Inc. began in 1972 with a dream of Mr. Mays’ to provide employment and job training for handicapped workers.  From its meager beginnings the Mission has grown and is now housed in a 10,000-sq. ft. facility.

Today, the Mission has a data processing department, a prepress, and graphic arts department, a complete lettershop, a large bindery, and two large color printing presses.

Ewing W. Mays lost both legs during a shelling attack in 1943 in Sicily where he was serving in World War II. Following his traumatic loss and reflecting on the enormity of it, he said, “I became very angry with the military, with the medical personnel, but most of all I was angry with God for letting such a terrible thing happen to me.”

Young Mays became so despondent, a chaplain was sent in to talk to him. It was during this conversation that a spiritual seed was planted in Mays and he regained the will to live. He began to realize that a loving God might have a worthwhile purpose for him, even though he had no legs.

He attributed his turnaround to two things: discovering Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior and falling in love with his lovely wife, Fay. They were married more than fifty years.

Mays accomplished many great things in his life as a disabled veteran. Initially he toured with a group of disabled veterans and sold war bonds and recruited employees for defense plants. Later he worked tireless hours with the Disabled American Veterans and toured overseas to bring hope to young men who had suffered similar losses.

All of these disabled young men told Mays how much they wanted to work and reclaim some productivity in their lives. In subsequent years, Mays was able to apply this principal equally to disabled civilians.

Mays always said, “The greatest satisfaction of my life has been the establishment of Mays Mission for the Handicapped which provides jobs and job training for so many handicapped folks. Our objective is to apply good, sound Christian ethics and principals to help our handicapped employees achieve economic stability and independence in their lives.”

For more information on how you can help, please call us at 888-503-7955  or email us at info@maysmission.org today.

Thank you for supporting people with disabilities!

A picture of our founder Ewing Mays and a quote from Mays: "When I see faces light up in hospital wards - when I learn that even one person has found new hope through our meeting - then I am reassured that our time at the Mission is well spent."
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Everything in life happens for a reason

Pictures of people with disabilities that Mays Mission has helped over the years

Everything in life happens for a reason.  So often we as humans just don’t understand why.  Sometimes disabilities are a result of our own mistakes such as drinking and driving or merely not thinking before acting.

When one is born with a disability or is genetically predisposed to a disabling condition we all too often go to God and ask “why?” In our finite way of thinking we often see the disability as something negative, only thinking of ourselves. This is not to say that we cannot question God or pray and ask Him to deliver us from our illnesses. 

My grand-nephew, the grandson of my brother, was born with Down syndrome. My brother, in his first reactions, questioned God wondering how such a thing could happen.  After much thought and a grieving process he found peace. In his prayer time, while seeking God’s comfort the thought came to him; “Has God ever made a mistake?” Without a doubt, the answer had to be “No!”

In the New Living Translation, Romans 8:28 says “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” It didn’t say “some things,” it says “all things.”

Even though disabilities happen, and whether or not they ever disappear, our lives touch and affect others. Whether it’s for inspiration or to cause us be thankful for what God has given us, everything has its purpose. 

Thank you for your support of Mays Mission for the Handicapped. If you would like more information or free brochures to hand out in your community and help us advocate on behalf of individuals with disabilities call us or email us at info@maysmission.org today. And feel free to share your experiences in the comments section.

Pictures of people with disabilities that Mays Mission has helped over the years including employees, veterans, children and students with disabilities.
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A wheelchair for Joshua

Pictures of Joshua, a former Mays Mission employee and double amputee. We recently donated a new wheel chair to him.

Mays Mission for the Handicapped is proud to announce we donated a wheelchair to former employee Joshua Garret. Joshua was very proud to receive the wheelchair, saying “This is much appreciated as I enter the next phase of my life.”

We originally bought the wheelchair while Joshua was working for us because, as a double amputee, it was difficult for him to be on his prosthetics all day. Joshua said it was much nicer and in better condition than his chair at home and could use one for home as well.

We were more than happy to provide him with this chair and we wish Joshua well in all his future endeavors.

To learn more call us or comment and we would be glad to provide you with more information and free brochures to help advocate on behalf of people with disabilities in your community. These brochures were produced by employees with disabilities like Joshua.

Thanks for you support!

Photo of Joshua, a former Mays Mission employee and double amputee. We recently donated a new wheel chair to him.
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Disability is Ok!

I once wrote about my pastor’s son going to St. Louis for some specified surgery to relieve spasticity related to cerebral palsy (CP).  He is doing very well and the doctors are extremely pleased with the outcome. Pastor said something about it in one of his sermons which sincerely hit home with me. In preparing to make the trip from Searcy, Arkansas to St. Louis, my pastor asked his son if he was still feeling good about the pending surgery. The response was positive and then further explained: “You know daddy, I’m really not that disappointed with the life I have now.” Dad was dumbfounded!

Those not having to deal with disability in the first-person (they themselves afflicted), often try to push or force “cures,” “healing processes,” or the latest technologies on to those they care for.  For certain, this desire to see a son, daughter, brother or sister cured of their disability stems from a deep, sincere love.

Sometimes though, as stated above, people with disabilities are satisfied to live the life that has been dealt them.  It’s not that bad.  Our desires to see improvements in the quality of life of others are good, commendable and probably natural, especially in the eyes of loving parents.  And, even though parents often know what’s best, it is a good idea (most of the time) to include “everyone” in the decision-making process.

Discuss disabilities with loved ones.  If they are comfortable with life the way life is, it may be best to simply love them like you always have and leave well enough alone.  Just some food for thought!

Thank you for your support. Feel free to call us or email us for copies of brochures like “The Spirit of Volunteerism” or “Faith In Action Caregivers Alliance” that were produced by employees with disabilities right here at Mays Mission.

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Helping John

We recently helped John ‘Indian’ Sparks, a double amputee, get off the streets. John was homeless and in a wheel chair when a local ministry told us about him. He had no one else left to turn to and no where else to go. We found a hotel for him until more permanent housing could be found.

Finding a wheelchair accessible hotel room for a few nights until more permanent housing could be found proved difficult. One would assume that over 30 years after the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), access and design of modern buildings would be accessible to all. But, alas, that is not the case. In instances like this, I strongly encourage you to eagerly and politely advise the establishment of the inconvenience they have caused and ask that it be corrected sometime in the near future.

While we were helping John find a place to stay we also picked up food from a local food bank for him and eventually John was able to find more permanent housing and get off the streets thanks to Mays Mission’s wonderful donors.

If you would like to advocate on behalf of people like John we have free brochures we can provided you like ‘The Americans With Disabilities Act’ and ‘Making Your Community More Accessible’ that can help. These brochures were printed by employees with disabilities at Mays Mission.

Positive Language Empowers!