Dear Editor:
Chesed House began its first year in operation in February 2023. At this time we have all six rooms filled with seven women and five children. We anticipate that two of these moms who have jobs will be ready to rent a place of their own in just a few more months. It is so exciting to see God at work in their lives!
When first purchased in 2021, the facility was in shambles. It took two years of planning and hard work, but it was successfully renovated with the generous donations and gracious work of many. We want to thank all you who have helped to make Chesed House a comfortable, safe place for women and children.
The first thanks goes to the volunteers and businesses who supplied labor and materials necessary to renew the building. This includes: Frank Bondurant, Flooring – Teal Tile, Jackson Building Supply, Blinds – Windows by Lisa (Tatum), air conditioning – FRM Heating & Air Ryan Faulkner, Water Heaters – Keystone Plumbing, Superior Fence and Rail, cabinets – Revelation Church & Carlton Contracting, Electrical – Rusty Yates, landscape mulch – Elixson’s Lumber, Paint and Painting – Jeb Stewart, landscaping – Master Gardeners, Rosarian – Jeff Buchannon, Farmers Heating and Air, Jimmy Larkin, Wayne Norman – Normans Lawn Care, Matthew Timmons – First Fire & Safety, Jessie Adams – Jessie’s Exotic Wood, Ken Sutton, Dorothy Watson, smoke detectors – Gary Wise – City Fire Chief, Providence Christian Academy, Selina and Rob Armstrong, Terry McCarthy Tree Service, Kylee Davis, Keith Davis, Ashleigh Davis, Lori Davis, Alahna, Bailey and Gavin Faulkner, Pastor Richard Cason-Madison Street Baptist, Pastor Joel Lasko – First Baptist Youth, City Wide Facility Solutions.
Next, we want to thank the room sponsors. They finished things off by decorating and stocking the rooms, making them comfortable for our guests. Room sponsors are JoAnne Robertson – Gianna’s Place, Michelle Kenyon, Becky Ethridge, Nancy Griffis and the Council for Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency, Harriette Jackson of Cross Church, and Mamie Tucker.
We have many financial donors who enable us to pay the bills and fund the ongoing supplies and maintenance of Chesed House. A few are: New River Baptist and Kingsley Lake Baptist Church, Herb Sellers, Arnie and Anna Gibson, Scott and Kim Roberts – Roberts Insurance, Susan Faulkner -Faulkner Realty, Jimmy and Leslie Crosby, Gainesville Council on Aging, Gayle Stokes, Tom and Sharon Stebbins, Joanne Robertson – Gianna’s Place, Helene Guest’s adult ladies class – Madison Street Baptist Church. Others donate needed items such as diapers, wipes, clothing, cleaning supplies, hygiene items, furniture, and appliances. Thanks so much to all of you! We couldn’t do it without you.
Thanks also goes to organizations assisting and providing support for the women, including Healthy Start, Answers, Celebrate Recovery – Cross Church and Caring Choices. They provide resources to help them get back on their feet and become successful parents and providers.
Finally, we are thankful to God who has provided us this opportunity. May we always bring glory to Him.
Sincerely,
Brian Davis, Linda VonEberstein, Lisa Prevatt, Maime Tucker, Linda Warn
