Hitting The Road For A Cause

TUPELO, Miss.(WCBI) – A former factory gets a new lease on life. The building’s purpose?Giving people the same thing.

The “Hellfighters,” made their way from the former Bryan Foods Plant in West Point, to Mathiston and back. Rob Coates is president of the Tupelo Hellfighters unit.

“We didn’t know whether it was going to be ten or a hundred, and we’re pleased with 50,”said Ministry Director Mike Cianci.

Each cyclist paid 25 dollars to ride, that money and the money raised at this community event goes here.

“Bryan foods fed people physically now the mission is here to feed people spiritually. ”

Cianci is the Ministry Director for “The Mission,” a new organization he says was made possible by a Bryan Family member, who purchased the same office buildings his family built, after the plant closed years ago.

“It was his vision to have a Christian community outreach here and lo and behold the buildings became available,”said  Cianci.

Cianci Says the goal is to have a free community clinic and a short-term men’s shelter for those recently released from rehab or jail.

“I worked at bryan foods until they shut down,”said Cianci.

Recovering from alcoholism, Dustin Ray says he’s living proof there’s a problem and this place is the solution.

“I just believe in what they’re doing here,”said Ray.

Cianci admits they’re a few hundred thousand dollars and countless hours away from renovating this space. But it’s days like today and people like this, who serve as a reminder to do exactly what the music making its way through these old speakers.

“It’s all on his timing we move as the holy spirit tells us to move,”said Cianci.