Spring Break
Three charities continue fundraising
Local groups looking to work under 1 roof to help needy
Kristina Peters / Editor in Chief
Issue date: 1/15/09 Section: News
The Serving Together Under One Roof campaign has raised about $31,000 of $94,000 needed to renovate a building that would be home to three charitable organizations in the area.
The Coles County Habitat for Humanity, Charleston Area Churches Food Pantry and the Coalition for People in Need have joined forces to find a facility that they can share and that meets each organization's needs as well as the community's.
After finding the building, the former U.S. Department of Agriculture building located at 990 W. State St., the three organizations are looking to raise all the money they need by June.
"We are going to be aggressively raising the rest of the money," Lanham said.
Lanham said the total cost of the project is about $125,000. He said some of that money was raised when they were looking for a building, leaving $94,500, of which they have about $31,000.
Of the $31,000, Lanham said they have received donations from $20 to $5,000.
"I believe that all three of these organizations are worthy of our generosity," Lanham said.
Part of the renovation to the 5,700-square-foot building will include two overhead doors, proper flooring, drop ceilings, handicapped accessible bathrooms and workspaces for the food pantry and Habitat for Humanity.
Lanham said needed electrical work would be started within two weeks.
The renovation will include office space for all three groups as well.
"That's why we really liked it (the building), the size was perfect," Lanham said.
He also said the building will have more available parking. However, Lanham said some people were concerned the building was too far away, but Lanham is not worried.
"Those who need to, can get there," he said.
With more space, the building will allow each of the organizations to better serve the community.
The Coles County Habitat for Humanity has been providing affordable housing for families in need since 1989. Lanham said they would build one house a year, but that was not enough.
"The community needed us to build three houses a year," he said. "Given the demographics of Coles County, we needed to build three houses a year."
The new building will allow Habitat for Humanity more space for tools and offices. The current office for the organization is located at the Wesley Foundation.
As for the food pantry, Lanham said the new building would allow the organization more space for storing food so they can accept more and buy more.
The food pantry has been operating out of the First Christian Church.
Lanham said much gratitude should be given to the church, but the space for the food pantry is like a cubbyhole.
"Given the demands being placed here, they should have moved years ago," Lanham said.
Part of the renovation to the building will include a walk-in cooler and freezer for the food pantry.
"Hopefully we will be able to store food in a better way," said Lynn Collins, director of the Charleston Area Churches Food Pantry.
Collins said one plus of the new building is that it is on one level, which would make it more accessible.
"Now, we are in a church where we have to go down a level," she said.
The Coalition for People in Need consists of seven churches that work out of the St. Charles Catholic Church and helps assist the poor with needs such as rent, utilities, gas and prescriptions.
Lanham said the three churches the organizations have been working out of have been more than generous, but the organizations need to better meet its needs.
"These three churches have been wonderful landlords making it possible for three groups to do their ministry," Lanham said.
After the rest of the $94,500 is raised, the Serving Together Under One Roof campaign is looking to get a $300,000 endowment.
"We don't want the facility to take up the money from what we do," Lanham said.
Kristina Peters can be reached at 581-7936 or at kmpeters2@eiu.edu.
The Coles County Habitat for Humanity, Charleston Area Churches Food Pantry and the Coalition for People in Need have joined forces to find a facility that they can share and that meets each organization's needs as well as the community's.
After finding the building, the former U.S. Department of Agriculture building located at 990 W. State St., the three organizations are looking to raise all the money they need by June.
"We are going to be aggressively raising the rest of the money," Lanham said.
Lanham said the total cost of the project is about $125,000. He said some of that money was raised when they were looking for a building, leaving $94,500, of which they have about $31,000.
Of the $31,000, Lanham said they have received donations from $20 to $5,000.
"I believe that all three of these organizations are worthy of our generosity," Lanham said.
Part of the renovation to the 5,700-square-foot building will include two overhead doors, proper flooring, drop ceilings, handicapped accessible bathrooms and workspaces for the food pantry and Habitat for Humanity.
Lanham said needed electrical work would be started within two weeks.
The renovation will include office space for all three groups as well.
"That's why we really liked it (the building), the size was perfect," Lanham said.
He also said the building will have more available parking. However, Lanham said some people were concerned the building was too far away, but Lanham is not worried.
"Those who need to, can get there," he said.
With more space, the building will allow each of the organizations to better serve the community.
The Coles County Habitat for Humanity has been providing affordable housing for families in need since 1989. Lanham said they would build one house a year, but that was not enough.
"The community needed us to build three houses a year," he said. "Given the demographics of Coles County, we needed to build three houses a year."
The new building will allow Habitat for Humanity more space for tools and offices. The current office for the organization is located at the Wesley Foundation.
As for the food pantry, Lanham said the new building would allow the organization more space for storing food so they can accept more and buy more.
The food pantry has been operating out of the First Christian Church.
Lanham said much gratitude should be given to the church, but the space for the food pantry is like a cubbyhole.
"Given the demands being placed here, they should have moved years ago," Lanham said.
Part of the renovation to the building will include a walk-in cooler and freezer for the food pantry.
"Hopefully we will be able to store food in a better way," said Lynn Collins, director of the Charleston Area Churches Food Pantry.
Collins said one plus of the new building is that it is on one level, which would make it more accessible.
"Now, we are in a church where we have to go down a level," she said.
The Coalition for People in Need consists of seven churches that work out of the St. Charles Catholic Church and helps assist the poor with needs such as rent, utilities, gas and prescriptions.
Lanham said the three churches the organizations have been working out of have been more than generous, but the organizations need to better meet its needs.
"These three churches have been wonderful landlords making it possible for three groups to do their ministry," Lanham said.
After the rest of the $94,500 is raised, the Serving Together Under One Roof campaign is looking to get a $300,000 endowment.
"We don't want the facility to take up the money from what we do," Lanham said.
Kristina Peters can be reached at 581-7936 or at kmpeters2@eiu.edu.
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