Rutherford Weekly

OUR 23 rd YEAR • ISSUE NO. 45 • NOVEMBER 12, 2015 RutherfordWeekly.com 828-248-1408 FREE FREE KEEPING RUTHERFORD COUNTY INFORMED! KEEPING RUTHERFORD COUNTY INFORMED! Celebration event Thursday, December 10 4:00-6:00pm Carolina Event and Conference Center ©Community First Media Community First Media Festival of Trees Festival of Trees SEE OUR AD IN NEXT WEEKS EDITION. 19 19 t h t h Annual Annual Largest Selection Available In Our Area ©Community First Media Community First Media FOREST CITY FOREST CITY CAROLEEN CAROLEEN A champion for veterans is retiring Articles By: Allison Flynn • allison@rutherfordweekly.com Being able to provide space for mothers and children to acclimate to a change in their lives is a goal of a new women's shelter that will be built by Grace of God Rescue Mission. The shelter, which will be located more centrally to the Mission's office at 537 W. Main St. in Forest City, will be 4,600 square feet. It will feature six large bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, and two rooms for the shelter supervisor, said Benton Mitchell, mission supervisor "We currently have a women's shelter called Gail's House, but it is a dorm setting," Mitchell explained. "We wanted to build this so that women with children could have their own space for family time." Family time is important, continued Terry Hagaman, Grace of God's executive director. "Mothers need privacy with their children to work with them," he said. "When kids come into the shelter, they are very insecure - I think having some privacy will be a tremendous plus." Because it will be located in Forest City, it will also give moms an opportunity to explore job opportunities. Transportation is often an issue, and by being closer to everything it will eliminate a barrier, Hagaman said. "We provide transportation for those in our shelters for job interviews, to apply for disability and to get to and from work," he explained. "Normally those in the shelter stay around 60 days, but if they are getting their education, they can stay indefinitely. And when we have vehicles donated to us, we in turn donate them to those who need transportation to get to work." The numbers of those who are homeless in Rutherford County is one that's "hard to nail down," Mitchell said. But, the local economy and downturn of textiles has contributed to the need for more services for those who have been displaced. Land for the new women's shelter was donated by a family who did so in memory of their son. Benefit concerts and other fundraisers are being planned to raise money and Grace of God has applied for grant funding from local grant making agencies. "We're totally supported by the community and local churches," Hagaman said. Grace of God Rescue Mission began out of Chase Baptist Church, Hagaman continued. When the church learned that one-third of those who were being served meals at a homeless shelter in Shelby were from Rutherford County, they decided to step up and begin services at home. "If it wasn't for them we wouldn't exist," Hagaman said. People have been loyal to support the mission through the years, Mitchell continued. "I was entering donations recently and saw where one person gave $2. That doesn't sound like a lot, but this person had the heart to give - and that's just as important as they'd given $2,000," he said. Donations of canned foods and plastic utensils are needed for the evening meal that is served each night beginning at 4:30. Cleaning products and other items are also accepted. For more information on Grace of God Rescue Mission's services, visit thegraceofgodrescuemission.org or call 828- 245-9141. Mission grows with new women's shelter plans Mission grows with new women's shelter plans For 40 years, Marie Champion has overseen the Rutherford County Veterans Services department. On Dec. 18, she'll leave the position, but, she said, she'll never stop working to help veterans. "Herbert Downey was the director when I began, and was given the approval to hire an additional position. He knew my sister and asked if I might be interested in working for him," Champion said. "I was there two weeks and he went on vacation - so the best way I learned how to do my job was hands on." Downey, she continued, was like a father to her, and that she had "loved every minute" of the job. As director of veterans services, Champion has performed administrative work in advising armed forces veterans and their dependents of the benefits available to them under federal, state and local laws. It has been a job, Champion said, that she has been passionate about. "I've cried with many of them," she said. "There are times when a veteran is angry, and you have to calm them down before you can get anything done. They have to know you care about them before you can help them." During her tenure Champion has completed many forms and reports and collected data to support a claim. "What has given me the greatest pleasure is to file a claim for a veteran, and then for him to come back to me to say 'I got a back check.' I know that I've changed a lot of lives," she said. The veterans services department is not a part of the VA, Champion explained, and the role of the department is to advocate for all veterans. "If they walk in and need help, we help them," she said. And if they couldn't come to her …. well, Champion went to them. "I've been to nursing homes and the hospital to file claims," she said. "And I try to go to all the events that honor veterans. I owe them my life - this job is what raised my children and helped me to buy a house. I can never do enough for them." The veterans she's helped have returned the kindness, particularly when her daughter died in 2006. "They've always been here for me and I'll always be here for them," Champion said. THANKSGIVING MEAL FOR THOSE IN NEED Grace of God Rescue Mission will again serve a Thanksgiving meal for those in need in the community. If you know of a less fortunate person or family who needs a meal, please let them know to join Grace of God at the mission on Thursday, Nov. 26, at 11 a.m. For $5, you can help provide this meal or one of more than 42,000 meals that the mission will provide next year. Your gift could also help provide safe shelter, Christian guidance and other vital services to help the less fortunate. Tax deductible donations may be mailed to The Grace of God Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 212, Forest City, NC 28043. Articles By: Allison Flynn • a Articles By: Allison Flynn • a ison@rutherfordweekly com ison@rutherfordweekly com

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