The Freedom Foundation was created to reignite the idea of a “beloved community” where people from all walks of life work together for the greater good of the community. Since its inception as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, the Freedom Foundation has focused on building beloved communities through bettering one individual life at a time, as well as providing support to community organizations.
Born out of a small grass-roots movement by Christian volunteers, the Freedom Foundation was created to reach out to the community beyond the walls of a church. The Foundation is built on the principles of Luke 10:27-37, the parable of the Good Samaritan. In this parable, Jesus gives the disciples an example of how to fulfill the law: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and love thy neighbor as thyself.” Jesus shows his disciples who their neighbors are, and how to demonstrate God’s love for these neighbors. This scripture has been the basis for all the work the Freedom Foundation does – loving and serving their community.
Like the good Samaritan, the volunteers of the Freedom Foundation are unique individuals who haven’t asked "What will happen to me if I stop to help this man?" but rather "What will happen to this man if I do not stop to help him?" These dedicated volunteers are committed to centering their lives around caring more about their neighbors’ well-being than their own. This almost unheard-of commitment to community makes the Foundation unique.
The Foundation is comprised of volunteers from a variety of church denominations and cultural backgrounds, who are joining together to work toward strengthening the community through loving people not just in word, but in deed.
During its first year of operation in Parker, Colorado, the Foundation provided social services such as job placement assistance, medical assistance, counseling (financial and personal), youth mentoring, and housing assistance.
Then, in August 2006, the Freedom Foundation was introduced to Selma, Alabama, when several board members made a tourist stop to visit the sites and museums honoring Selma’s rich history during the Civil War and the Voting Rights Movement of 1965. Their visit sparked a connection with the community, and a desire to support Selma in a greater way. God moved their hearts to serve the city of Selma as their neighbor.
From August 2006 to December 2006, the Freedom Foundation conducted a community-wide needs assessment by interviewing city officials, community leaders, students, and other residents through one-on-one meetings and group forums. Community members spoke of a city with a rich historical past, whose downtown streets once bustled with growth and economic prosperity. They shared the city’s challenges, too: extreme poverty, crime, deteriorating schools, and limited economic opportunities.
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You can contact us at:
Freedom Foundation
PO Box 715
Selma, AL 36701
(334) 375-3606
