“Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” James 3:13

Are we “wise and understanding?”  Do we do our deeds in “humility” without the need for recognition and praise?

The “Sisters in Christ” group from Freedom Bible Church held work parties at our thrift store on January 29th and February 12th and also brought us many household supplies.   Kim Thornton organized the team.  Thank you, Kim and ladies of Freedom Bible Church.

Once again, Teddy and Angela Collingsworth and their Sunday school class from Warren Baptist Church, helped  at our thrift store.  This class has held a work party for us once a month since March of 2010.  Jenna Martin, staff writer for The Columbia County News-Times, read in our newsletter that this class built a play yard for us. She asked if she could write a story about this group and their service to Julie’s House. The article appeared in the January 23rd edition of the paper. Thank you, Teddy, Angela, and Sunday school class members, for your faithful service.  Also, thank you, Jenna, for writing the beautiful article.

We mentored Austin Vickrey, Dana Dickerson, and Kieran Edmonds as they did their high school senior projects.  They each chose domestic violence as their subject.  Austin sponsored an archery tournament fundraiser for us, Dana volunteered at our store, and Kieran did a “ride along” with a Columbia County sheriff’s deputy.  Thank you, Austin, Dana, and Kieran, for selecting our ministry to be a part of your projects.

P.S. Kieran Edmonds is my grandson and in November of 2010, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.  His Eagle Scout Court of Honor and reception were held February 19th at Columbia County Christian Church. His parents are Kim and Eliot Edmonds and Kelsey is his sister.  Congratulations, grandson!  I am so very, very proud of you!

We received a $5,000.00 grant from the Border Bash Foundation. The check was presented to us at the offices of Beasley Broadcasting on February 15th.  Thank you, Tommy Rogers, Bob Evans, Tom Johnson, Mike Armstrong, Beasley Broadcasting, Border Bash Committee, The Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area, and sponsors.  Mike Armstrong, our Board President, accepted the check on behalf of Julie’s House.  Thank you, Mike.  Becky Padgett wrote the grant for us.  Thank you, Becky, for a “job well done”.

We regret to announce that Tom Sorrells has resigned his position on the Board of Directors of Julie’s House.  Thank you so very much, Tom, for many years of faithful and tireless service. You are a wonderful advocate for our ministry in your church and in our community. Tom and his wife, Lynda, are members of Warren Baptist Church.

If you or your Sunday school class or civic organization would like to assist us by preparing a meal for our support group meetings, please contact me at 706-836-2781.  The meetings are the fourth Thursday or each month at 5:30 P.M. and the food needs to be picked-up or delivered by 4:30 P.M.  We usually serve about fifteen people.  

Our wonderful new web site is “up and running” and we hope that you will pay it a visit.  Thank you, Laura Baareman, for the many hours that you gave to make this happen.  

Our ten-room house is now at capacity.  Every room and every bed is occupied.  We have three families in residence—three mothers and seven children.  I average two telephone calls a day from women with children who are homeless and destitute.  It breaks my heart to tell them that we have no room.  A lady called today.  She said that she and her two sons, ages fourteen and eleven, slept in their car last night.  Please pray for this lady and her children. 

Pat Bourke

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down his friend can help him up.  But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!”   Ecclesiastes 4:9 & 10 

Another year is history and it is time to analyze the past, learn from mistakes, and plan for the future.  Without friends and family to “help me up” when I  “fall down” and the love of Jesus Christ, the Julie’s House ministry would be an impossible task.

Thirty-one individuals, including staff members, volunteers, support group members, and residents of Julie’s House, attended our Christmas party on December 9th.  Lynda, our house manager, and the families at Julie’s House decorated beautifully for our party and Bubba Moore and George Champion, who are part of our thrift store staff, helped to prepare the food.  I say a big “thank you” to all of you for a job well done.

Thanks to many, many loving Christians, the residents of Julie’s House had a very Merry Christmas. 

On December 11th, the Woodmen of the World Lodge #1571 hosted a Christmas pizza party for our children and their mothers at their facility on Wheeler Road.  Santa Clause brought many gifts and the food was delicious.  Peggy Ryder organized the party.  Her husband, John, is president of the organization.  Thank you, Peggy, John, and members of Woodmen of the World Lodge #1571.

A young ladies Sunday school class from Warren Baptist Church prepared and served a Christmas feast at Julie’s House on December 21st.  Rachel Carlisle is their teacher.  Thank you, Rachel and young ladies, for this wonderful gesture.  The food was fantastic and there were lots of “left-overs” for dinner on Christmas Day. 

Also, a young ladies Sunday school class from Kiokee Baptist Church visited Julie’s House and brought many, many gifts.  Beth Stewart is their teacher.  Thank you, Beth and Sunday school class, for your generosity.  This class has furnished supplies for our house on several occasions. 

The Lawson and Stephens families visited Julie’s house and brought gifts.  They wanted their children to experience the joy of giving.  Thank you, Lawson and Stephens families. 

We can always count on Jan Scarbary and Kathy Shuford to be Santa’s helpers.  Thank you, Jan and Kathy.

We now have a wonderful and safe playground for our children.  A Sunday school class from Warren Baptist Church donated the materials and labor to construct a privacy fence to enclose an area 32 ft. x 25 ft. on our property.  Teddy Collingsworth led the team, raised the funds, and planned and implemented the project.  This Sunday school class has given many hours for work parties at our thrift store and Julie’s House.  Thank you, Teddy and Angela Collngsworth, Sunday school class members, and Warren Baptist Church.

We now have a boat, motor, and trailer for sale thanks to David and Karen Ribble.  They also donated a Ford Ranger pick-up truck to us last year.   The boat is a 1988, Bayline Cuddy Cabin, 17 ft., fiberglass model with an 85-hp outboard motor.   The NADA gives a fair market value of $2,100.00 for this boat, motor, and trailer.

As with all businesses and households, we are trying to cut costs and operate more efficiently.  We are asking that you help us solicit in-kind donations of goods and services that are necessary for the operation and maintenance of our facility.  I have listed some of these needs on the reverse side of this newsletter.  If you or someone you know is able to donate a service or materials, please call me.  All donations to Julie’s House are tax deductible. 

We have made the decision to publish this newsletter bi-monthly instead of monthly because of the expense and time involved.  We will enclose two envelopes in each issue for your convenience.  A “special thank you” to Virginia Summerall for processing and delivering the newsletter and donating the paper.  This is a huge help and big savings.

I wish for you and yours good health, wealth, and happiness in the New Year!  May God Bless!

Pat Bourke

By Jenna Martin,  Staff Writer, Columbia County News Times 

Just a year after the Making Ends Meet Bargain Center opened, the Martinez thrift store is looking to expand its facility as donations from the community continue to pour in.
Proceeds made at the bargain center benefit Julie's House, a Columbia County nonprofit organization designed to shelter homeless and battered women and their children.

"People have been so generous, and this is how it's supposed to be," said Julie's House Executive Director Pat Bourke, who also runs the center.

Making Ends Meet opened in November 2008 and has since moved to several locations at La Petite Plaza off Washington Road, by CSRA Camperland. The business is now headquartered at Suite 1C in the shopping center and encompasses four units spanning a total of 2,800 square feet. The center could expand again as soon as February, Bourke added.

"This is fun," she said. "When you do something you love, it's not really work."

The store offers clothing, furniture, toys, baby products, household goods, jewelry and other merchandise. Churches, organizations and individuals continuously donate items for the store, Bourke said.

Many donations currently are being housed in storage warehouses until more space becomes available.

In a year's span, the bargain center has taken in about $52,000, with about half of those proceeds netted by Julie's House, Bourke said.

In honor of the store's one-year anniversary, customers can purchase a full bag of clothes and shoes for just $3 every business day in December. The store is open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday.

While the business is open to the public, customers in need can receive free items after filling out paperwork.

"Not only does it serve the community as far as being able to purchase things at a nominal price," Bourke said, "we also are a resource center for the community."

Bourke said she's received about 100 individual referrals from several organizations and churches in Columbia and Richmond counties and helped about 40 families.

When speaking of the bargain center's mission, Julie's House Board President Tom Sorrells cited biblical passage Acts 4:32, which states that all believers "shared everything they had."

"That's our mission, to have those that have a need not to go without," he said. "It's been a hand-me-down store that has not been a hand-me-down for those in need.

"It's been a tremendous outreach of this community."

Shirley Helmick is one of about 15 volunteers who lend a hand at the center. She started volunteering about 10 months ago after browsing items in the store with her good friend, Patty Usry.

"The same day we came in to check it out, we decided to volunteer," she said.

Helmick said she views the other volunteers and customers like family.

"We've had people come in and say they love coming in here, because it just makes their day," she said. "That's good to hear. It makes you feel like you're really doing something for them."

For information, call Bourke at (706) 836-2781.