greetings with JOY and gratitude from all of us in the Community of HOPE!!
WE TOO are grateful for Spring. Mowing season has started. We are launching Good Works Gardens this month. We are doing a lot of outside work through Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Guests have come to stay in the Good Works Hannah House and join us as we reach out in our community! People will be coming to walk the Good Works trails and use the Carter Cabin for some solitude. Please come!
I turned 66 in February. Good Works has been the primary focus of my life since I was 22 years old. From the day we started welcoming strangers in the basement of our home I have given my time, energy, and attention to this ministry which “God has trusted us with”. AND this is a trust. I feel trusted. I feel grateful to be trusted. The first initiative of Good Works in the fall of 1980 (before we opened our home to strangers) was to organize volunteers to visit “shut-ins” (a term we don’t use today) at their homes; seniors unable to get out very often due to physical limitations and aging. We taught a class in three local churches called Counseling the Older Adult. We were all young. I remember teaching about “fear of falling” and the need to help people remember and celebrate their past. These days, now that I am a senior, I am more aware of my own vulnerability and limitations; and my desire to talk about the past through the lens of God’s faithfulness. I need more of God’s grace and the patience of others along the way now.
About once a month, our staff and interns meet for what we call a Staff Development Day. We review our mission, vision, and plans; and talk about leadership, policies, and some of our protocols. We try to “sharpen” one another and encourage one another to stay on mission. For Good Works to thrive our work requires a high level of trust for one another, good communication, and integrity. The residents (and former residents) of the Timothy House feel safe, trust us, and can work to embrace change, because of the background work we do to create an environment where people can feel safe and grow. Friday Night Life flourishes because we make time to think through how to stay on mission with the way we are welcoming, loving, affirming, and supporting one another as we provide a nutritious dinner. The Transformation Station “works” because we work so intentionally behind the scenes to structure things which help people succeed. A lot of things are growing in our community but aren’t seen yet. These become the foundation of our fruitfulness! Does that make sense?
In The News…
Please send all mail for Good Works to PO Box 4. Please do not use our street addresses for any Good Works mail as they are not secure mailing addresses and are easily accessible to anyone.
Saturday Service started March 16th. We are welcoming individuals and groups to join us each week as we travel to the homes of seniors here in Athens County to extend friendship and provide practical assistance. Seniors’ complete applications and then we visit them to plan out the project before we send volunteers.
Friday Night Life (FNL) moves back to the Good Works property on Luhrig Road April 12th. We are always looking for small groups (5-10 people) who would sponsor one FNL this year!
20/30/40. Planning has begun for a reunion of former staff and interns for July 4-6. 2024. We are looking for “host families” close to Athens who have an extra room and might be willing to host one of our former staff or interns.
Keith continues to speak in many different contexts at colleges, universities’, churches, and special seminars. This talk with given at Asbury Theological Seminary in February as part of a series on the practices that make or break all communities as described in the book Living into Community by Christine Pohl
This month we are reading applications and welcoming prospective summer interns. We still have a few openings for interns this Summer if you know someone you think would be a good fit. Soon, we will launch the application process for our Summer Teen (7 week) Agricultural Internship for local teens who want to learn about gardening and service to others.
We need donated vehicles for the Transformation Station (TS). We have almost 60 adults willing to volunteer time in exchange for a vehicle. Could you pass the word about the TS? We also appreciate the donations of appliances such as washers/dryers, refrigerators, and stoves.
Good Works Appalachian Immersion Internship begins in September. Maybe you know someone who would like to experience a short-term residential internship with us. Our website has more details
We are seeking a group of volunteers who will do a food drive. We provide around 21,000 meals a year through the Good Works Timothy House, Summer Lunch and Friday Night Life. We also provide “take-home” food after Friday Night Life to around 10-15 families every week
who experience homelessness in 8 southeast Ohio Counties.
Our second annual DAY IN THE LIFEon-site event takes place on Saturday, December 7th.
Kim Hudelson oversees Operations for Good Works and supervises the team who cares for our properties, works with Neighbors Helping Neighbors and The Transformation Station. Kim also participates in Friday Night Life, receives our large (fresh) food donations, and manages the Country Bed and Breakfast. Garrett Mather-Smith oversees the team that cares for the residents of the Timothy House (TH). He trains the TH staff (including the Night Shift staff), weekend volunteers, and updates our policy and protocols. Aaron Duncan is our I.T. guy working with all of our technology, payroll and has a significant leadership role in Friday Night Life. Aaron also monitors and maintains our websites. All of these folks carry a lot of responsibility as they provide leadership to the staff and community of Good Works.
Our leadership team: Garrett, Kim, and Aaron
In Closing
This month, I want to share this letter we received from a former resident who stayed at the GW Timothy House last year:
Dear Good Works Staff and Volunteers,
I want to thank each and every one of you for all of your kindness, compassion, and support. Even through this storm I have faced, you have helped me stay positive and trust that God will provide in His timing. The sense of family and community I have experienced with you all will never be forgotten, and I hope I can show others the love and kindness you all have shown me. I will continue to pray that Good Works continues to bless the Athens Community and if you ever want to expand, let me know and I’d be on the front lines. Again, thank you for EVERYTHING you ALL have done - S
PS - If you would like to participate in the mission and ministry of Good Works through giving, you can send a gift to:
