networking4needs

Our Team

Our History

Our amazing team of volunteers are committed to helping others. All with different specialties, our team is unique, in the sense we are able to help with many situations, between our team and our resources we have set up a fantastic network in Mid-Mo. We take our convictions and turn them into action. Think you would be a good fit? Get in touch for more information!

Our History

In March of 2012, I walked into the doctor's office after being off work for several weeks from the Missouri Department of Corrections where I was a sergeant. It was a Tuesday and I was planning to return to work the following Thursday as scheduled for my 4 10 hour work week.

As I walked into the doctor's office and the visit began and I

As I walked into the doctor's office and the visit began and I handed the doctor my paperwork she scooted her chair back from her desk, wadded up my return-to-work papers and threw them in her trash can. She told me that she had already filled out my long-term disability papers with the State of Missouri and I would not be returning to work as she felt my job was "killing me." I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety, and chronic migraines among several other things. My medications at that time consisted of 16 pills at night, 9 in the morning and 6 at noon. I explained to her that I was the primary breadwinner in our home (family of 7) and I could not just "quit" my job. She was not changing her mind. In May of that year, my husband of 18 years and I separated. My life I thought was over.

February 5, 2013, my father, Randy Tull passed away from stage 4 cancer after 2 months of being in and out of the hospital with what we thought was a blood clot in his leg and eventually in his lungs. Later, we found out it was cancer. March 3, 2013 my now ex husband was arrested for child abuse. March 7, 2013 my only living grandfather passed away. In less than a year, my entire world was tossed up in the air and dropped like the ball on New year's Eve in Time's square. I fought a serious relapse of depression. For 6 months, I got my kids up for school, came home and went back to bed, got up and picked them up, cooked supper, helped with homework, bathed them or made sure they bathed and did it all over again. I was fully prepared to attempt suicide and had plans to take my life. The lies of the enemy had me fully convinced that my children were better off without me because I was damaged goods. I had an army of people behind me who prayed without ceasing (some of them I still don't know who they are) one of them was my bonus mom and her army of prayer warriors.

In 2015, my children and I founded Networking for Needs in memory of my father in an attempt to keep his memory alive and do something good out of something devastating in our lives. Our first idea was a simple school supply drive and that was what we thought we would do each year in his memory. Fast forward to today, we are 249 members strong. Our paperwork to be Missouri Tax exempt is in to the Missouri Attorney General's office and next is 501 3 C. I am remarried to the love of my life who fully supports this ministry and all the crazy ventures and prays with me as I take on every new mission. Michael G. White Jr. and I attend First Church of the Nazarene in Mexico, MO and they are our family. The members there love and support us fully and we are thankful for them. My health is 95% better than it was even 2 years ago and I am not taking even 1/4 of the medication I was taking when all this mess began. God is that good, all the time. My migraines are not under control but they are managed. I am so blessed that God has chosen to bless what we thought was "our" memorial to my father and show us what he had in store for Networking for Needs.

February 5, 2023 was the grand opening of "God's Abundant Blessings Free Store," a division of Networking for Needs in Mexico, MO. This store will allow fire victim and others in need to shop our store and pick out their own blessings. We are located at 626 E. Summit St., the first door past the dumpster.

When we step out in faith, God will show us the plans He has for us and give us not only what we need but the desires of our hearts. Our mission at Networking for Needs is to love you until you can be you again. We want to help you by giving you a hand up not a hand out. We will not judge you but we will love you. You can expect new or gently used items that are clean and in good working condition. In other words, if I wouldn't let my children/grandchildren use or wear it, you won't receive it. We just ask that you don't sell what you receive for profit and that you freely receive and freely give.

God Bless you and thank you for being here. I look forward to getting to know each and everyone of you and hearing your testimony too. Much love, Melissa.

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Our Mission

Our History

Our Mission

Our mission is to help others with not only tangible needs but also referrals to other agencies to assist them in reaching life goals. We believe that loving them where they are on the way to where they are going encourages self sustainability. The purpose of Networking for Needs is to "network" with those in the community by serving those in need of guidance, encouragement, mercy and grace. We exist to offer a hand up to those in need. Our home base is in Mexico, MO. and we operate God's Abundant Blessings Free Store at 626 E. Summit St in Mexico. We are open to the public and require no paperwork for you to receive assistance from us. Store hours are Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri from 10 am to 2 pm. Follow God's Abundant Blessings Free Store on Facebook for more information. We seek to make a difference in and around the community and to those who reach out to us, regardless of geographical location through a process that begins with a honest and caring relationship that seeks to assess the true needs of those seeking assistance.

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