Blessing Others
Our blessings are for sharing with others. Lakeside's Community Christmas Offering is an opportunity outside of your normal giving to bless a specific community need. This year Powerhouse Ministries and Folsom's Hope are the recipients of our Community Christmas Offering, and each will receive half of the offering. We are excited to bless them by giving your donations to their building funds. Find out a little about their stories by reading below.
With an average waitlist of forty people and a rundown building full of dry rot, Powerhouse Ministries’ primary building was no longer safe or adequate, so the organization launched fundraising efforts to build and expand and double capacity. Their land on Wales Drive has undergone complete transformation, with the old building demolished and construction of two new buildings underway.
Transformation is always the goal at Powerhouse, a no-cost, two-year residential recovery program providing women the opportunity to leave addiction, abuse, and homelessness behind. It’s one of the top programs in the country and has a 91% success rate.
With a total price tag of $3.2 million, much of the contracting work has been donated. So though the expansion comes with a large cost, Powerhouse will have an amazing facility for a relatively low price. They are in the final phases of fundraising, with $800,000 to go.
The new 4,500 square-foot residential center will have capacity for forty women and children, double the previous capacity. Additionally, they are renovating the current kitchen and dining hall and building a 1,600 square foot childcare and counseling facility.
The residential and counseling center will include thirteen bedrooms, and each will be named after major church and community group donors. “I want women to see the names of the churches and groups that are for them and know they have people who have invested in them and are rooting and praying for them,” founder Nancy Atchley said. “Lakeside will be one of those names. You have been so supportive of us over our lifetime, and we love and appreciate you.”
Folsom’s Hope needs a home. Without a centralized location, the organization—which tutors, mentors, and supports Folsom’s under-resourced children and families—has limited capacity and reach.
Through recommendations from teachers, at-risk students are invited into Folsom’s Hope’s programs, which operate on school campuses (during a normal year). There is a continual wait list of students so the group is only able to accept the most vulnerable students.
With a vision to expand its reach, Folsom’s Hope has state approval to build a new 4,000+ square foot building—phase 1 of the overall vision for their coming Community Center. This first phase requires $2.5 million, but fundraising efforts have been delayed due to the coronavirus. They are still hoping, however, to obtain the funds by summer 2021.
A generous donor has implemented a $250,000 matching fund; any funds donated will be matched dollar for dollar.
The needs of Folsom’s under-resourced children are often hidden, but Folsom’s Hope nurtures them and provides support to launch them on a path of success. The new building will provide the ability to expand its services and reach for both the children and their families.
Founder Salwa Kasabian said, “We would not be where we are today without Lakeside. Your generosity has sustained our programs and also given us funds for the approval process for our new building. We are so grateful for your continued generosity, support and prayers.”