The following Editorial was posted in the Columbus Republic Newspaper in Columbus, Indiana, in support of the Atterbury Job Corps and our involvement with the “Brighter Days” Homeless Shelter. Atterbury Construction Trades are assisting the non-profit organization, “Love Chapel” with renovations. Here is what was written:
“When the Brighter Days shelter opens later this year in Columbus and begins serving the homeless, it will be accurate to say that clients will receive more than a helping hand. The assistance in getting back on their feet will be due to a community’s worth of helping hands. A wide range of contributors — such as businesses, churches, groups and students — are pitching in to make the shelter at 421 S. Mapleton St. a reality. Some businesses have chipped in with in-kind services and materials. The emergency homeless shelter will serve as many as 36 people at a time. Sweat equity is being poured into the Brighter Days project being developed by Love Chapel, the Columbus Township Trustee’s office and the Ecumenical Assembly of Bartholomew County Churches — and thank goodness for that. For example, students from the Atterbury Job Corps, in the plasterers and cement masons program, have helped with the construction. Since the shelter is relying on the help of many volunteers, tapping into the Atterbury Job Corps was a creative idea and a good use of a local resource. The Job Corps is a training program that helps young people improve the quality of their lives. Using the students was a win-win situation for all involved. The students receive real-world experience in the trade skills they want to master, and the local community gets needed help. An important benefit of many volunteers working on the project is that organizers believe they can cut the out-of-pocket cost by about $250,000. The estimated cost of renovating the 8,400-square-foot former fire department maintenance facility is $300,000 to $350,000. But with the donated assistance, that cost could drop to $75,000 to $100,000.
Kudos to all of the supporters, including the Asbury United Methodist Church mission group that’s taking an active role in coordinating volunteers for the project. If a community’s level of compassion and care is reflected in how it helps those who need help the most, then this project speaks well about Columbus area residents”. -Elizabeth Kestler, Love Chapel Director