At Christmastime, thoughts of those who are less fortunate brings to mind the plight of a young, homeless couple seeking shelter in the town of Bethlehem for local church leaders, turning their attention to the homelessness in Logan County.
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LEFT: Local volunteers paint fencing at the new Damascus House homeless shelter at 225 N. Detroit St. RIGHT: Volunteer Paul Overs of Russells Point paints trim inside the house. (PHOTOS | BETH OVERS)
And with that mindset, local church officials look to complete and open Damascus House at 225 N. Detroit St., formerly Rachel’s House which operated as a respite for parents, in the first half of 2016, with a focus on temporary housing for young male adults.
The Lighthouse Emergency Shelter of Logan County was formed in 2003 by a caring and compassionate group of people who looked at the Biblical passage, “… I was a stranger and you took me in,” Matthew 25:35, as the impetus to think of those in need residing in communities within Logan County.
Director Deb Storm said the initial shelter at 107 S. Madriver St. has never gone without a waiting list and is filled 90 percent of the time, only open between clients and cleaning. Consequently, renovations started in June 2015 at the second location.
Of those who are homeless, church officials said 38 percent report alcohol abuse, 26 percent report drug use problems, 39 percent report mental health issues, and 48 percent live with chronic illnesses. Those statistics motivated the shelter “to be a point of connection to churches, agencies, and individuals to promote spiritual, emotional and physical wellness, as well as a shelter and sanctuary.
“With so great a need,” Mrs. Storm said, “the board of directors began searching for a second site to adjunct the Women and Family Shelter at 107 Madriver St., with a focus on single men.” Young adults age 18 to 25 are the fastest growing homeless population in United States, according to officials.
Mrs. Storm said youths from Bellefontaine First United Methodist, Hillcrest Baptist and Assembly of God churches cleared weeds, hauled trash and painted walls at the facility.
“Their discipline and determination revealed the possibilities and potential for Damascus House,” Mrs. Storm said.
Once that task was completed, the torch was passed to a group of Good Samaritans headed up by Jeff and Beth Overs. This group, Mrs. Overs said, it simply a group of friends who decided they needed to be involved in helping others who may “have fallen through the cracks, can’t get help or funding” through other means. “That’s where we come in,” she said.
Mrs. Overs secures funding and supplies through facebook friends and three anonymous businesses, who provide materials at their cost or free. The labor is provided free of charge by her husband Jeff, along with Jeff Stockton, Brian Davis and Bryan Moots, with assistance from as many as a dozen others.
On a past project, the group pulled double good-deed duty. Not only did they provide a handicapped child with a bedroom of her own, but did so with the help of a youth “we took under our wing” from the juvenile court system. Even after he had satisfied his community service hours, Mrs. Overs said he continued to return to help. “He just kept coming back,” she said. “Our goal is to teach the next generation that you have to help your neighbors.” The youth got the message, logging some 30 hours of service.
For this project, Mrs. Overs said the group received funds through a quarter auction organized by Dina Leiter and Amy Brown, who organizes similar events for Relay for Life and others. The duo reported the auction as their most successful to date, raising more than $3,000 in one evening.
When all was said and done, “This passionate group raised over $4,000 of the $15,000 renovation budget, along with volunteering their construction skills,” Mrs. Storm related.
“They gave up their weekends, time and time again to complete 60 percent of the projected renovations.”
Money also was been donated from United Way of Logan County, Logan County Electric Cooperative and Lewistown-Trinity United Methodist Church, as well as individuals.
“Volunteers are the life blood of the Lighthouse Shelter, giving help and hope to those that come through our doors without a roof over their head, “Mrs. Storm attested.
“In short, there would be no Lighthouse without those sharing the light of love to those less fortunate.”
Anyone interested in serving or donating can call 592-9914 from 8 to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday.
“Our Christmas prayer for Logan County is a holiday filled with love and laughter as we serve hearts searching for a home.”