spring greetings with JOY and gratitude from all of us in the Good Works Community of HOPE!

 

We are well. We are grateful. We are ‘mindful’ of the struggle and suffering of so many people. We grieve. We pray. We encourage and support one another as we keep on loving and serving our neighbors. 

About once a month our community spends a day in what we call staff development.  We spend time talking about our foundations, share reminders, talk through policies and offer encouragement (and perspective) to one another.  Last month, I asked everyone to share one thing they “get” to do here:

Tim: I get to talk with people I don’t know, ask them questions and try to get them to talk with me.

Ana: I get to comfort people that feel alone.

Heather: I get to be a safe space for kids.

Aaron: I get to connect to young and old people by shooting baskets every Friday.

Kim: I get to connect with leaders of groups who come to serve. I get to intersect with them to make sure everyone has a good experience.

KP: I get to learn people’s stories who are from all walks of life.

Garrett: I get to be a part of sharing people’s stories and help others to share the stories that they've heard.

Jeremy: I get to work with people who have been hurt or abused in various ways and show them that they are still loved and cared for.

Buddy: I get to help restore broken places and help in the healing of broken people.

Olivia: I get to both give and receive life, give and receive blessing, pray and be prayed for, and develop meaningful connections where God is present and people feel heard and loved.

Terri: I get to learn and be a student of how people go through their experiences.

Luke: I get to sharpen my video making skills where the end result is something that is helpful, informative and positive.

Sydney: I get to help us steward our relationships through language, and put my proofreading skills to a good use.

Sophie: I get to learn from people who have a lot of experience and enthusiasm about gardening.

Peter: I get to be a positive relationship for people who have been disappointed and hurt by people and institutions in their lives.

Darlene: I get to represent what a community of people and the blessing of God can accomplish over time.

Keith:  I get to visit with residents on the Timothy House porch. I especially enjoy times when they don’t know me and don’t know my history with Good Works. It’s kinda fun.

Saturday Service invites volunteers to join us as we serve seniors (primarily widows) with service at their homes. The photo on the left is KP Pawlowski at the home of one of our neighbors. KP joined the Appalachian Immersion Internship last fall and serves with the Timothy House, Friday Night Life and Good Works Gardens.  The photo on the right was taken of several volunteers working with “start-ups” for the Good Works Garden.

#214 – TWO HUNDREED AND FOURTEEN Individuals and families have received vehicles through Good Works.  Each time someone completes their points, we organize a special lunch and arrange a ceremony and gather in a circle to offer words of blessing, encouragement and affirmation.  Then, we get to hear from the person receiving the car.

A few weeks ago, while on my way to work I passed by a former Transformation Station volunteer driving her car.  She had the biggest smile on her face!  Like a lot of volunteers that come into the program to work towards points for a car, it was a struggle.  She didn’t have a car.  She relied on rides from others or her bike to get her here and back home.  She juggled many other life challenges along with this, balancing her job and helping her kids with her grandkids.  She really seemed to be a great source of support for her family.  I remember she was so nervous about driving, because it had been so long since she had driven a car of her own.  I asked where she was going to go first, she said to her daughter’s so that she could see her new car!  It was a joy to see her work through this volunteer process, and walk with her during her struggles, and see the excitement that day she drove off in her newfound confidence. -- Kim Hudelson

Each initiative Good Works engages in is designed to not just “provide a service” or “accomplish a task”.  We are looking to provide a safe community of people.  When Jim showed up at the Timothy House, connection to community was not on his radar.  He had just lost his job and lost a long-term relationship. He was struggling with some mental health challenges. He was in his fifties and felt that he’d lost everything.  Things seemed hopeless.  Each Thursday evening, I joined him at the Timothy House, he would go out to the front porch and smoke with his back to everyone.  This is where the approach used by Good Works can really shine.  The TH is more like a family home than a shelter. It offers structure and relationship. Volunteers aren’t at the TH to “fix” people or just “keep them in line”.  Volunteers are there to develop relationships.  Over time, we found discussions that were interesting to Jim, and he began to open up.  When he would have a setback, we grieved with him.  When he had a conflict, we helped him structure resolution.  Jim came to the TH with very negative feelings about Christians, but when he moved into his new apartment, he saw us as a faithful community that cares about people in the lowest times in their lives.  We have maintained a positive relationship with him since he moved out, even inviting him to join us in celebrating my son’s wedding. – Aaron Duncan

IN CLOSING

I must say that I too am surprised that we are in our 46th year now. I feel so thankful to everyone who has and who is walking with us, and encouraging us, and supporting us. I feel like we are doing what is right and just, and that we are being good stewards of our time and resources. When someone inquiries about Good Works to consider an internship, staff position, or to volunteer, I encourage them to ask the four questions as a lens of whether they should make a commitment here. But these questions also call us to BE the kind of community where these values can be sustained (1) Can I learn something from these people? (2) Are these the kind of people I believe can learn something from me? (3) Are the people at Good Works as concerned with my growth and development as they are with the people this ministry serves? (4) Can I get healing here too?  I believe these questions help to sustain us as we pour ourselves into the mission of Good Works: “to connect people from all walks of life with people who struggle with poverty, so that the kingdom of God can be experienced.” Amen and Amen.

 Us in 2026 and 1980

If you would like to participate in the mission and ministry of Good Works through giving, 

you can send a gift to:

 

Good Works

PO Box 4,

Athens, Ohio 45701

 

Or visit the MAKE A DONATION part of our website
https://good-works.net/make-a-donation

740.594.3339