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Aug 8, 2024
By Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer
The day Julie Rickey was able to buy orange juice for her kids, she knew she’d achieved something significant.
As a single mom coming out of abuse and living in poverty, she wanted to take steps to get stable in her life. Buying orange juice was a milestone.
“People that are in poverty never planned to be there, but another situation has trapped them into that,” Julie says. “I know the feelings of ‘how is this ever going to change?’ and the fears and depression that go along with that. For me to step out of that was a faith-based decision.”
Her journey with God out of poverty led her to successfully homeschool her kids for 25 years and helped her realize she was made to be a teacher. Drawing from that toolbox, she began teaching English to Spanish-speaking children. That led to a ministry to the children’s families that exploded into food pantries serving thousands of families in the community by offering a pantry on two different days at two locations, and delivering food monthly to those without transportation.
Ultimately, the food ministry led to Julie’s Masterkey Ministries two signature programs: “Getting Ahead” and “Staying Ahead.” Julie is again drawing from her toolkit to teach adults and teens how to gain the stability she did.
“Food will never get anyone out of poverty,” Julie says. “It will help you with the quality of life for today. But the answer is us filling those learning and resource gaps the families have.”
A portion of funding for the Getting Ahead program comes through the Texoma Health Foundation. The program offers the transformation adults need to not only come out of poverty—it’s education they can pass down to their children to break the cycle of poverty.
“You can’t pass down what you don’t have,” Julie says. “Most of the time, the parents may not have graduated high school, or they didn’t do well in school. And now they’re working all the time and may be weak in other resources that are affecting their success. It could be mental, emotional, spiritual, or the determination level. All of those things are a part of success, of finding that place where you’re strong.”
Homestyle meals are served during the 16-week program, provided by local churches, community organizations, and individuals. It’s a message that says, “We support you. We admire your courage for showing up.”
It makes a difference. As one participant said, “Getting Ahead saved my life.”
Another said, “I can dream again.”
Studies show that people do better in making major life choices when they have a support team around them. With Masterkey Ministries, there is no time limit on that support.
“It can take years for people to do better in making major life choices,” Julie says. “Most agencies don’t want to take that time. But I think the emotional, mental, and spiritual components need to be a continuum for our people. When it is, they will fly.”
