ROCKINGHAM — Local and regional officials joined a throng of supporters from all walks of life Friday for the official groundbreaking ceremony of the permanent Place of Grace Rescue Mission structure on the property of New Life Church on Airport Road.
The Rev. Gary Richardson hosted a series of speakers including fellow pastor and owner of Unique Stone Alex Perakis, Rockingham Mayor Steve Morris, state Sen. Tom McInnis, Terry Thompson of Richmond Community College and assistants of U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis and U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson. Ronnie Hawks of Hawks Builders, seated beside McInnis on stage, was thanked for his donation of labor for building the new structure.
McInnis was thanked for his donations, both monetary and material, that will completely pay the cost of laying the new building’s foundation.
“Everyone look at your neighbor and say one hundred and twenty-three,” Richardson said, immediately echoed by the crowd. “That’s how many people we’ve helped since July 2014.”
The statistics spoke for themselves — 85 to 90 people transitioned to better lives amounting to a 75 percent success rate, said Richardson.
Morris said the Place of Grace is a welcome solution to one of the area’s prominent problems.
“This project’s been going on a long time,” he said. “People have tried to find a solution to the homeless problem and Pastor Richardson has hit the nail on the head. He saw a possibility and took a chance, and most of all he gave it credibility because he is a man of faith and he is a man of character. I think all of us believe in him and knew that if he said it would happen, then it would happen.”
Thompson spoke on behalf of the RCC Board of Trustees, college President Dr. Dale McInnis and Vice President Dr. Robbie Taylor.
“We are pleased to be here as part of this partnership with the Place of Grace,” Thompson said. “It started as an opportunity and has turned into a mission I have come to believe in. And with everyone here today I can see I am not alone. Wherever this takes us, that’s where we’re going to go.”
Sheriff James Clemmons and Chief Deputy Mark Gulledge humbly accepted acknowledgement from the stage for coming out to show their ongoing support.
When Tom McInnis took the podium, he spoke of his support for the Place of Grace and suggested it be used as a model for the way other parts of the state tackle the trials of transitioning struggling homeless people who want to turn their lives around.
“Except by the grace of God, there go I,” McInnis began. “You understand that any of us could be homeless through our fault or through no fault of our own. If we lose our assets, within 90 days we’re going to have to find a place to rest our head at night. Many people don’t know that in Richmond County, our public schools have almost 200 children that are deemed as homeless. We need to do something to change that, and the only way we can do that is by active participation.”
McInnis further exhorted everyone to continue to stay involved, make donations and support the work of the Place of Grace.
State Rep. Ken Goodman arrived and like many of the others Friday, he made a donation.
One donor, Richardson said, who asked to remain anonymous, pitched in $20,000 toward the building expenses and many individuals and businesses donated their time and talent, materials and determination, supplying all the labor needs that will soon be required once the foundation is set.
Richardson said he wanted to offer special thanks to outreach coordinator Dianne Raines, David Riddick who takes care of daily tasks at the Place of Grace, Anthony Peters who addresses the spiritual needs on a daily basis and Mr. and Mrs. Eric Bean who have faithfully taught every Monday.
Reach reporter Melonie McLaurin at 910-817-2673 and follow her on Twitter @melonieflomer.
