The MOB Invades Ballard!
A small band of men has moved into the Ballard area of Seattle. Embedded in the community as ordinary citizens from all walks of life, the MOB is unleashing it influence. Our small group of men keeps a low profile, avoids publicity, and continues to grow practically unnoticed.
Sent by the GodFather, we send out scouts all over Ballard, searching and planning our next "hit." We search for the poor, the weak, widows, orphans, the disabled, immigrants, low-income, elderly, and single moms.
But instead of mayhem, evil, and organized crime, this MOB is involved in organized acts of... SERVICE!
The MOB stands for Men of Ballard and is a loose confederation of men from various churches around Ballard and Crown Hill who meet together to do GOOD deeds for those in need.
Here’s how it works. We announce projects and dates primarily by e-mail. Once
a month on a Saturday morning, following breakfast and a short time of
fellowship, the MOB boss assigns the “hit list.” We then break into
smaller groups and for a few hours use our talents, time, and
experience to help those in the community who need practical help. The
MOB might fix a drippy faucet, clean gutters, repair a lock, paint a
room, do computer maintenance, perform simple car repairs, or a host of
other activities. Our goal is to do good deeds for those in need — no strings attached.
That's it. Pretty simple concept, right? Since we began we've met the nicest people who are so grateful for lending them a hand – people who are stuck, like "Emily" the young mom whose boyfriend tried to run her down with her own truck, kicked in the front door and frightened her and her children. He left before the police arrived and she didn't know who to call to change all her door locks or where she would get money to pay for it. A couple of our guys jumped right on it, changed her locks and got her through her initial time of crisis.
Or we may help someone like "Rachel," a disabled senior whose whose porch was falling down due to rotted support posts and prevented the door from opening very wide. She had no money for repairs and we were able to fix the posts and lift up the porch. We returned later to repair broken windows, install a new gutter, replace a mailbox, trim trees and fix a gate.
Or we may be called to a group home in Ballard where five disabled adults live, to install a new garbage disposal, replace a toilet, and build some pantry shelves for a large amount of food and sundry items which they have on hand.
Perhaps, you're a man looking for a practical way to put your faith into action and make a difference in our community. This group was started just for you. The MOB creates an environment for you to meet and make friendships with other Christian men and then use your skills to meet a practical need of someone in our community. You are welcome to volunteer once or help out every month. It's also a great way for fathers and sons to bond together by working side by side to help someone else.
What are MOB results? People are helped. Our neighbors see men cooperating and living out their faith, without regard to denominational differences, worship styles, or political preference. We give everyone in Ballard ample reason to look at our work and see that the Godfather is real and that He cares about them!
We launched The MOB in February, 2008 and are now accepting requests or nominations for projects and donations. See what we've done so far by reading our NEWS page or looking at PHOTOS of our work events. If you want to help by volunteering time or donating money or materials for projects, see our CONTACT page.
Come and join other men who put their faith into action by loving God the Father and loving their neighbor with random acts of kindness. Or become one of our "balcony people" cheering us on. Ask to be put on our email list which gives you monthly email reports about completed projects and announcements of future work days.
The GodFather will get the glory and you will get the joy!
–– Ray "Gino" Braun
Da' MOB Boss
