Huntsville's Promise
Our Children Our Future
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Local youths make big impact in town By Tori Rowe/Staff writer Homes repaired, lives touched, fellowship enjoyed. It was all in a day's work at the second annual Impact Huntsville. On April 3 and 4, about 15 churches came together with the Faith In Action committee of Huntsville's Promise for a weekend of home repairs for Huntsville's needy. Scott Atnip, director of Huntsville's Promise, said 150 volunteers were on hand to help out with the repairs, and about 14 homes got some much-needed work. "The home repairs we did ranged from painting to tearing out and replacing wheelchair ramps, to patching holes and working on roofs," he said. "We had a wide range of activities, and we were able to do some pretty significant repairs." Huntsville's Promise Faith In Action committee (formerly known as the church committee), sponsored the project, and new Faith In Action coordinator George Oliver said he enjoyed the opportunity to help out with the project. "I thought it was a wonderful experience to view and participate in this day," he said. "Words cannot express how glad I was I participated. "It was a blessing to bless other people," he said. "As Saint Francis of Assisi said, 'It is in giving that we receive.'" Impact Huntsville was formed when Huntsville's Promise saw a need for that type of program in the community. Atnip said the thrust of the program is reaching out to individuals and families in the community who are in need and teaching Huntsville youths the importance of helping others. "While most churches in some way, shape or form provide help and special services to those in need, Huntsville's Promise is working to bring all local churches together in an effort to reach the entire community," he said. "Impact Huntsville allows several different church groups to come together with the common goal of making a difference in Huntsville lives." Oliver said Huntsville has long needed a program like this because there are many people who have limited incomes and need home repairs. "I think that Huntsville is a community, like many others, that have copious amounts of need," he said. "We have a lot of poverty, and people need help. "Helping people is what Faith In Action does," Oliver said. "The overwhelming sentiment during the weekend was that we wished we could have done more." Goals have been set for next year, and they center around one word - more. There was one instance, Oliver said, where he was at an elderly woman's home and the group working on it was able to repair several things. "We were able to fix her door, but we could see she needed new cabinets and other things," he said. "We told her this would not be the last time she saw us. We told her we would be back." After Saturday's work was done, a block party was thrown for the participants and community. "We had kids, adults and people from the neighborhood, and we ended up having 250 people come and go," Atnip said. "It was a chance for everyone to come together, have fellowship and celebrate their accomplishments from the day. It capped off a great day of service. "On Sunday, we had a couple of the groups come out to finish up," he said. "I think we made some improvements from last year. Last year was a success, but we've grown, and we're going to make it a bigger success next year." Atnip said the weekend wouldn't have been as successful had it not been for the leadership of Chris Mahlen, Roy Bradley and Jackie Pace. Mahlen is the vice chair of the Faith In Action committee, Bradley is a Sam Houston State University student who helped out during the weekend, and Pace coordinated the block party. "This couldn't have gone on without their hard work and dedication," Atnip said. "The event was a success for all involved, and we got some pretty good work done." Tori Rowe can be reached at (936) 295-5407, ext. 3026, or by e-mail at trowe@itemonline.com |
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