This year Jeremiah’s Place has seven children living on its campus, ranging in age from 3 to 13 years old. While people have donated some funds or small gifts, there was hardly enough to fulfill the children’s wish lists.
“It would be wonderful if they could open something they really wanted but didn’t think they were going to get,” said Karen Shayne, executive director of Lumpkin County’s transitional housing facility for homeless families and women with children.
Jeremiah’s Place came into being through the efforts of 10 men from the weekly Cooper Green Prayer Group who were concerned about the homeless people they observed during a cold winter. Several others from the Dahlonega Baptist Church Benevolence Fund who were working with a homeless family at the time joined them to discuss possible solutions.
“Initially, (our) prayer was for detailed guidance about how this calling was to materialize,” said Jimmy Faulkner, one of the founding members.
“Since then, God has been faithful to continually reveal how to proceed and He has blessed the ministry beyond what we could have asked for or imagined.”
Within six months the group incorporated, becoming North Georgia Interfaith Ministries, Inc. The organization came up with a plan for a transitional program and housing. facility receiving donations of $270,000 and about. Numerous volunteers joined the effort. Organizations, businesses and individuals donated time, land, materials, labor …. The university donated unused buildings from its campus that now house seven families and office space. The list goes on.
“…God provided for our every need,” Faulkner told The Nugget at the campus’ ribbon cutting.
Two years from the date of that first meeting Jeremiah’s Place opened its doors. Today it has a success rate of 87 percent.
Since then the needs of Jeremiah’s Place have been met by a generous community. It does not rely on any government money, Shayne said. “We run only on private donations through churches, individuals, the community and fundraisers.”
WISH LISTS
Shayne is hoping the community can come up with a few of the special items the children at Jeremiah’s Place have on their with lists, and a few items for the moms as well.
“I don’t want to forget the moms and our single residents. They're working so hard to keep their families together. They would be so happy to get a gas card. Many of them work two, sometimes three jobs trying to save enough money to get a place of their own and make deposits on utilities, and the cost of gas these days is really eating into their ability to save money,” Shayne said. “That’s a necessity, but mani-pedi's for the females or even a gift card from Dairy Queen to take their children out for an ice cream would make their day.”
As for the children, some of the items are pricey, some not so much.
“A 9-year-old or 3-year-old doesn’t have any idea of cost, they just know what they would really love to have,” she said. “Maybe an office or business could pool resources to fulfill some of these items.”
• There’s a 9-year-old girl who would love to have a size four-and-a-half Air Jordans. Fidget toys are also on her list.
• An 8-year-old boy’s favorite things are super heroes—especially The Avengers.
• Anything—pencils, notebooks, pillows, hair accessories, jewelry—anything with cats on it is the wish of a 7-year-old girl.
• A 7-year-old-boy loves Sonic the Hedgehog. There’s a wide range of gift ideas here, from video games to action figures.
• A 13-year-old young lady loves fashion, but especially make up and jewelry, (Size large in shirts and 14 in pants)
• A 3-year-old little girl who loves all the Gabby’s Playhouse and Bubble Guppies books and toys—easily found on Amazon—would be delighted with any of those items. She also wishes she had an electric riding horse or unicorn to ride.
• Lastly, a 12-year-old boy is fascinated with astronomy and space. Books, star maps of the constellations, etc.
There are several ways you can participate in making this Christmas a merry one for the residents of Jeremiah’s Place. Purchase a toy or gift card and bring it to the campus at 1445 Red Oak Flats Road. You must call (706-867-5404) or email (lumpkincountyhomeless@gmail.com) to make arrangements for someone to open the gate. You can mail a check to P.O. Box 668, Dahlonega designated Christmas gift. You can also make a donation at the website, lumpkincountyhomeless.org, and designate it as a Christmas gift.
If you are an individual or group wishing to fulfill a particular gift, please call or email to let them know.
“I really want to thank the community for what they do to support Jeremiah’s Place,” Shayne said. “You will never know the impact you make on the lives of our residents with the things you do.”