Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

Mercy House Adult Teen Challenge ("Mercy House," "we," "our," or "us") is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, faith-based ministry organization headquartered in Georgetown, Mississippi. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and protect information you provide when you interact with our website at mercyhouseatc.com and any related forms or services.

Contact us regarding privacy concerns at: info@mercyhouseatc.com | 855-893-7333 | 1110 Mary St, PO Box 266, Georgetown, MS 39078

2. Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of information:

• Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, and mailing address when you fill out a contact form, intake application, or volunteer application.
• Program Application Information: For intake applications, we collect personal and health-related information necessary to evaluate program eligibility. This information is treated as strictly confidential.
• Donation Information: When you make a donation, payment is processed by Stripe, a third-party payment processor. We store your name and email for donation records; full payment card details are never stored on our servers.
• Usage Data: We may collect anonymous analytics data (pages visited, browser type, referring URL) to improve the website experience. This data is not personally identifiable.
• Cookies: Our website may use cookies or similar tracking technologies to improve site functionality. You may disable cookies through your browser settings; however, this may affect some site features.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Process and respond to intake applications and inquiries
• Contact you regarding your inquiry, application, or donation
• Send ministry updates, newsletters, and event information (with your consent)
• Process donations and issue tax receipts
• Improve our website and ministry communications
• Comply with legal obligations

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for commercial purposes.

4. Confidentiality of Application Information

Information submitted through our intake application is treated with the highest level of confidentiality. It is used solely for the purpose of evaluating program eligibility and coordinating admissions. Staff who handle application data are trained and expected to maintain confidentiality in accordance with applicable laws and ethical standards.

5. Third-Party Services

We may use the following third-party services that have their own privacy practices:

• Stripe — Payment processing for donations. See stripe.com/privacy.
• Google Analytics — Anonymous website usage analytics. See policies.google.com/privacy.

6. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, or as required by applicable law. Donation records are retained for a minimum of seven years for financial accountability and IRS compliance purposes.

7. Your Rights

You may contact us at any time to request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information. To opt out of ministry communications, you may reply "unsubscribe" to any email or contact us directly.

8. Children's Privacy

Our website is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us immediately.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Continued use of our website following any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

10. SMS Text Messaging — Privacy & Terms

Mercy House Adult Teen Challenge operates an SMS text messaging program to send volunteer shift reminders, schedule updates, and important notifications to volunteers who have opted in. The following terms apply to all text messages sent through this program.

SMS Privacy Policy

• Mobile Number Privacy: We do not sell, rent, share, or disclose your mobile phone number to any third party for marketing purposes. Your mobile number is used solely by Mercy House and our SMS service provider (Twilio) to deliver the messages you have opted in to receive. Twilio processes messages on our behalf under a service agreement and is bound by its own privacy and data protection obligations.
• Information Stored: When you opt in, we record your mobile number, the date and time of consent, and the messages sent to you for record-keeping and compliance purposes.
• Message Frequency: Message frequency varies based on your scheduled volunteer shifts and program activity, typically 1–4 messages per month. You will not receive automated promotional messages unrelated to your volunteer service unless you separately request them.
• Message & Data Rates: Standard message and data rates may applyaccording to your mobile carrier plan. Mercy House is not responsible for any charges your carrier may apply for receiving text messages.
• Opt-Out & Help: You may cancel your SMS subscription at any time by replying STOP to any message. To request assistance, reply HELP. You may also opt out by emailing info@mercyhouseatc.com or calling 855-893-7333.

SMS Terms of Service

• Opt-In Consent: By checking the SMS opt-in box on our volunteer application form and providing your mobile number, you affirmatively consent to receive text messages from Mercy House Adult & Teen Challenge. Consent is not a condition of volunteering.
• Eligibility: You must be at least 18 years of age and the owner of the mobile number provided, or have authorization from the account holder to consent on their behalf.
• Automated System: Messages are sent using an automatic telephone dialing system or similar technology.
• Carrier Responsibility: Message delivery is subject to your mobile carrier's network availability and policies. Mercy House is not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
• Program Changes: We reserve the right to modify or discontinue the SMS program at any time. We will update these terms on this page if material changes occur.
• Liability: Mercy House is not liable for any damages arising from the use of or inability to use the SMS program to the maximum extent permitted by law.

For questions about our SMS program, contact us at info@mercyhouseatc.com or 855-893-7333.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us: