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Great deals were just part of the reason people came to the Dignity Clothing Awareness Event at MountainView Church on July 30. The sale was to raise money for the Good Ground transition home, which will be located in Andrews, for women who have experienced trauma. -
Photos by Anngee Quinones-Belian/Staff Correspondent Plenty of folks came out to shop, save money and support a good cause at MountainView Church on July 30 for the Dignity Clothing Awareness Event.
Murphy The location for the Dignity Clothing Awareness Event was MountainView Church, It not only gave great deals to folks stopping by to shop, but also raised money to help local women.
On July 30, a portion of the church was dedicated to a yard sale-type shopping experience to continue raise funds for the Good Ground transition home. The home is in the process of becoming and, when completed, will be a safe place for women to heal and grow.
Good Ground will provide access to counseling, God’s word, classes that will equip women in parenting and communication as well as healthy relationships, finance and work skills. It will provide a well-bodied, enriched environment for women who have experienced trauma so they can begin a new life.
“The Good Ground transition home is not a rehab but rather a sober living facility, where the women will be connected to a supportive community, work opportunities, classes, support groups and more. Although there’s no stay time limit, the whole point is to help them transition to more independent living,” said Amy Rasmussen, director of Garden 58, a nonprofit agency based in Andrews.
“There are government grants to help purchase homes and secure houses for maybe a couple of moms and their kids to share so they can maintain that stability but they’d still be connected to our program.”
Garden 58 connects willing hands to waiting needs. With three branches, Garden 58 uses volunteers to help prevent trauma, preserve safe homes as well as provide healing and hope in the community.
The three branches of Garden 58 include:
- Pinwheel Tutoring which offers support in scholastic, spiritual, relational as well as practical support while providing space to grow in a dedicated learning environment and a place to belong.
- More than Enough branch aims to provide “more than enough” support to families encountering the social service system and Care Communities provide wrap-around support to specific families.
More than Enough provides training & tools to these teams as they prevent disruptions & preserve safe homes. A Care Community is made up of 6-12 people each taking turns bringing their family a weekly meal or providing childcare or mentorship to a child in the home. More than Enough provides training & tools to these teams as they prevent disruptions & preserve safe homes.
- The Revolving Door branch offers support through friendship, networking and a resource closet. It offers classes and a transition home as well as work opportunities.
“The church has been tremendous in helping with clothing, auction items and raffle items. It’s all about Jesus. This is a hand-up, not a handout.” said Diane Williams, who attends MountainView and helped with the Dignity Clothing Awareness Event.
“It is beautiful to see members of our community working together to help others. The efforts of our volunteers in Andrews who organized our first clothing drive event led to our second event at MountainView. A great team of volunteers, led by Diane and Ron Williams, organized and promoted a fantastic event that raised $2100 towards this much-needed facility & program,” Rasmussen said.
A couple who wishes to remain anonymous heard about the plans for Good Ground and are willing to purchase the property needed for it to open.
To donate, visit garden58.org/donate. For volunteer opportunities, visit garden58.org/ways-to-grow.