On Saturday, January 23, 2010, The Live 3rd team visited Grace Centers of Hope, located in Pontiac, with 57 volunteers ready to make a difference in the lives of others. Grace Centers of Hope is Oakland County’s oldest and largest homeless shelter providing hope and help since 1942. The Live 3rd volunteers helped with various tasks in a few different operating areas.
Two teams of volunteers helped with painting two of the refurbished homes on Seneca Street. Grace Centers of Hope has about 12 homes on Seneca Street and continues to acquire additional properties and homes in the area so they can be revitalized and returned to their original architecture, and rented to graduates of the Two Year Aftercare Program at Grace Centers of Hope.
Another team volunteered to break up and move broken concrete that was piled up behind one of the refurbished homes on Seneca Street.
Yet another team worked in the basement of the church, cleaning and preparing the area for a Children’s Ministry program. They cleaned, organized, painted and assembled various items such as toys and a crib.
Still another team traveled to one of the Grace Centers of Hope Thrift Stores, to sort and organize donations. Proceeds from the thrift store go directly to support the 200 men, women, and children who permanently reside at Grace Centers of Hope.
Some of the volunteers were treated to a personalized tour of the various ministries, by Pastor Kent Clark. We saw the various properties that are owned and those that are in the process of being acquired. Pastor Clark also took us on a guided walking tour of the mission building where we saw how the center operates on a daily basis and all of the good it does for the community. Grace Centers of Hope accepts no government funds of any kind and relies solely on private contributions and volunteers.
This was a rewarding opportunity to touch the lives of others in a positive way, and each of the volunteers was touched in a special way by having been a part of this event.
