VALDOSTA — March is a big month for the South Georgia House of Hope. The long-term residential Christian home for women struggling with drug and alcohol abuse celebrated ten years of operation this month, and is set to open a new venture, Restored Treasures Upscale Thrift Store on Saturday, March 21.
“Restored Treasures will specialize in upscale, gently used furniture, appliances and home décor,” said Sharon Wagner, executive director of South Georgia House of Home and vice chair of Evans Memorial Camp. “The store will help raise funds and community awareness for women and men who need long-term residential treatment for alcoholism, addiction and abuse.”
The South Georgia House of Hope was given an opportunity by a local businessman to establish the store in its current 20,000 square-foot location at 103 Ave. B in Valdosta, at the intersection of West Hill Avenue. Volunteers worked together to clean, paint and prepare the store that Wagner knows will change lives.
“Our store will be operated by men and women in our recovery program to give them the opportunity to learn discipline, creativity and fruitfulness,” Wagner noted. “All of our items are generously donated by individuals and businesses and are tax-deductible. Our objective is to instill a sense of value, dependability and sensitivity which will create men and women of God who will make a difference in their families, church, communities and the nation.”
In addition to the beautiful farmhouse used to accommodate 12 women, South Georgia House of Hope has opened three new re-entry homes and a new chapel and learning center. They are also close to opening their new men’s program, Evans Memorial Camp, in Lakeland. Men are already on the waiting list ready to come in.
Chamber Ambassadors joined Wagner and her team of volunteers on Thursday for a soft-opening for Restored Treasures Upscale Thrift Store. The store officially opens to the public on Saturday, March 21 with a grand opening celebration set to take place from 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Learn more about all of the efforts happening at South Georgia House of Hope by visiting www.SouthGeorgiaHouseOfHope.org.
The faith-based South Georgia House of Hope program has a demonstrated success rate of 87 percent, allowing many of its residents the opportunity to restore their families and marriages.
Photo Caption/Credit: Sharon Wagner, center, and a team of volunteers put the finishing touches on the Restored Treasures Upscale Thrift Store last week. The store will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, March 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Photo courtesy of the Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber.
Kelley Naranja: Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce
