We are having a very full summer here at Good Works!
Good Works Staff Summer 2026
Summer Service started in June with summer interns, summer staff, Kids Discovery Club, Work Retreats, the Teen Agricultural Internship and a lot of visits to the homes of seniors all over rural Athens County. It has been good, very good. In short, we are grateful we “get ” to do this! We had six of our seven weeks scheduled with different week-long Work Retreat groups, and it has been truly a privilege to lead these volunteers towards service and relationships (Ephesians 2:10).
In June 2025, we welcomed Olivia Butz to join our community specifically so that we could be more intentional in developing a Good Works initiative we call Senior Friends. Olivia was a summer intern in 2022 and contacted us early last year to explore returning to Good Works specifically to expand our focus on caring for widows. She finished her MDiv Degree in 2023 from Asbury Theological Seminary. Oliva visits many of the seniors (primarily widows) we have met through Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Starting last fall, she has coordinated visits (and matches) with several volunteers. Indeed, this is so significant to me. I am grateful we get to more fully fulfill the vision and values of James 1:26-27,
“Pure religion in the sight of God is to visit widows… in their time of distress”. It is truly a privilege to be trusted with these relationships. Here is a story Olivia shared recently:
Ethel is a dear soul with several cats, chickens, and a dog. Ethel unfortunately has a lot of physical limitations as of late. One morning, when I arrived for a visit, her dog Max had snuck out. This is not a common occurrence, apparently, but he did bolt from the door down the road and off the property. This initially did not bother Ethel very much. I encouraged her to come sit outside and see if/when he might return. Eventually she got so anxious that she asked if we could get in a car and drive around looking for him. Though she lives with her son and daughter-in-law and has a fairly good relationship with them, this dog is one of her most constant and enduring sources of companionship. We drove down the street and back and she pointed out her late son’s home - an ongoing source of pain/grief for her. We did not initially locate Max, but he turned out to be just up the road a few hundred feet in the other direction. We got him into the car and got all human and animal limbs and bodies back into her home. This situation was slightly comical, but also a real point of tenderness and anxiety for Ethel. The goal of the Senior Friends initiative is to develop the kinds of relationships that can support our neighbors through these types of emotional challenges - in a word, being a friend!
The Timothy House, Summer 2026
Since the day I started providing hospitality to strangers in my home in 1981 to this day, WE have experienced something I believe is unique to those of us who open our hearts (and our lives) to welcome strangers: feelings of loss. Over the years, we have opened our hearts and home to welcome and serve a lot of people with whom we have good closure, often in exit interviews. Many of these people stay in the community over a long period of time, and we get to stay connected with them, encourage them, stay in relationship with them, and receive from them. And this is good. HOWEVER, each year there are several people we provide shelter, care and hospitality for who stay with us for weeks or even months, and then suddenly disappear. Their exit is sudden, often unexpected, and we are left mentally perplexed and emotionally raw. This is hard for all of us, because we opened our hearts, loved, thought we built trust, learned about and got to know them in their vulnerability and brokenness. Then, suddenly they are gone. Intellectually we recognize that this too is part of their own mental health difficulty, which is partially explained and revealed in the situation of their homelessness. HOWEVER, this is hard for us, and we feel grief, sadness and the feelings of loss which often include anger. It’s hard to stop writing here. There is more to say and because we loved, so much remains unresolved. Why? What did we do? Did we do our best? Did we fail them in some way? Could we have done something differently? What happened? These questions come because we genuinely are trying to love our neighbors. Fortunately, we have one another and can process these feelings and situations together. This helps us to cope, heal, and move along in the pathway of HOPE. Thank you for supporting us as we care for people who experience homelessness.
We are grateful for the 215 people who have donated vehicles to Good Works! Photo at left is our celebration with the family who received their vehicle. Photo at right is our time of affirmation.
The Transformation Station is amazing. Amazing! When I think about what the Good Works community is doing to help so many vulnerable families by clothing them with dignity, inviting them to use their abilities to help others while entering into community (and trust) with us; and then, receive something they need and have waited for…. I am filled with JOY. This convergence of people who donate vehicles with staff who administrate this initiative (mostly Terri Woodson and Kim Hudelson) and staff who supervise and work along-side each person who participates, is really inspiring to be a part of. Glory to God! In addition to the appliances, bicycles and non-emergency food, we have been able to provide 215 vehicles.
Good Works Summer Discovery Club and Summer Lunch. Photo at left was our final day when parents came to see photos and watch their kids receive awards for their unique character qualities. Photo at right is a picture of summer lunch under the picnic shelter on the Good Works property. We provided around 30 meals each day.
IN THE NEWS…
Our 19th year of Summer Discovery Club and Summer Lunch started June 15th and ended July 30th. We had around 25+ kids this year coming four days a week from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm, and we also had the blessing of building relationships with their families. This is the second year we have held Discovery Club on the GW Luhrig Road property, and we are grateful be here. We had a committed group of staff, interns and volunteers each day for Discovery Club, and also for Summer Lunch.
Our Teen Agricultural Internship started June 16th and ended July 30th. The teens were supervised by our former Appalachian Immersion Intern, KP Pawlowski, and Summer Staff Clare Mulvay. Clare did an internship a few years ago with Day in the Life and has remained connected with us. She also prepared our Summer Lunch this summer.
Loads of HOPE, our free laundromat, continues to thrive. We continue to welcome adults and children two days each week. This initiative is really helping a lot of people in very practical ways! Most importantly, we get to build relationships with a group of adults and children. We need laundry soap!
We are planning another season of Saturday Service (10 weeks) starting September 12th. Maybe you know of a group who might be interested in serving with us one Saturday this Fall.
WE are still looking for a volunteer interested in helping organize our archives into a display. I am happy to show you the archives room.
If you are willing to take a look at the current needs list on our website, we would be grateful!
The Fall is a good time to visit us. Come and see the beauty of SE Ohio and experience Good Works!
Summer Work Retreats assisted with the gardens at the homes of our Seniors and helped build ramps, stained, painted and did a lot of mowing. We had 6 groups this summer from all over Ohio and Michigan.
Work Retreat Groups prepared the food for Friday Night Life every week.
We had many one-time presenters for Discover Club all summer. One presenter worked for NASA.
Groups enjoyed 9-Square during the week and at Friday Night Life
Good Works hosted 6 different week-long Work Retreat Groups this summer. Groups stayed in the dorm at the GW Hannah House, shared “life-together”, and were sent each day to different homes here in rural Ohio to serve in practical “hands on” ways. We especially like to see inter-generational groups.
Good Works has sponsored a 7-week summer teen agricultural internship for many years. Teens learn about growing food and friendship with seniors as they travel to different homes in Athens County. Each summer, we host a final ‘affirmation event’ and offer the teens words of blessing, encouragement, and a stipend.
DAY IN THE LIFE (DITL)
DAY IN THE LIFE (DITL) is our way of inviting families, individuals, businesses, and congregations to support one or more “days” in the life of the Good Works Timothy House (GWTH) each year. The yearly budget for the GWTH is around $180,000. We have 4 full time and 2 part-time staff who oversee our vision to create and sustain a safe, clean, and temporary place to stay for adults and children who experience homelessness. DITL asks people to donate $500.00 (or more) to cover the costs of one day each year. Some people can give more, others contribute less. Good Works is primarily donor based, so we are grateful for any amount provided. The GWTH provides care, community, food, and shelter to families and individuals from all over Southeast Ohio who are experiencing homelessness. This is our 46th year of intentionally loving strangers! So far, in the first 6 months of 2026, we have provided 1,289 nights of shelter (240 nights to children).
IN CLOSING
IN CLOSING this month, I want to share this: Our faith must have feet. We go. We learn. We give, and we also come alongside others with a mind-set to listen and receive from the people God has guided us to love. This feels right. Thank you for supporting us. As some of you may already know, giving often goes down during the summer months. We would value and appreciate your gifts, support and contributions to Good Works now.
PS- I am feeling much better. I had to have some unexpected surgery in June, and it has taken me several weeks to recover. Overall, we are well. We are grateful. We are still singing praises to God!
If you would like to participate in the mission and ministry of Good Works through giving,
