“Jesus wept.”  John 11:35

 Updates from Pat . . .
I have “wept” for innocent children who are homeless and I have “wept” when I have had to say “we have no room”.  I receive several calls every day from hospital emergency room social workers, school social workers, church pastors, and/or DFCS social workers seeking shelter for their clients. Case workers from other shelters call when their facilities are at capacity or their clients have reached their thirty-day limit.  Julie’s House is able to offer shelter to only ten individuals at one time - usually two or three families. 

My dream is to build a complex with small efficiency apartments, an on-site childcare facility, administrative offices, a playground, and a room for GED classes.  A town, much smaller than our own and less than one-hundred miles away, has such a complex with sixteen efficiency apartments.  I have visited this facility and have sent several clients there. The ladies and their children are allowed to remain in the facility for up to twenty-four months and they go to school, acquire job skills, and find employment.

This project would require four acres of land and cost several million dollars to build and staff. Our income in 2012 was less than $75,000.00.  Many dollars are spent for motel rooms, food stamps, public housing, and welfare. These dollars do not help or teach the recipients to become self-sufficient and poverty and homelessness go on-and-on from generation-to-generation.  I believe that I have proven the need and that this community is “up to the task” and able to provide the funds to make my dream a reality.

Making Ends Meet Bargain Center had a “July 4th Celebration and Sale”.  We had lots of customers, sold lots of merchandise, and enjoyed wonderful fellowship.  Thank you, Brenda Smith and Emily and Mike Askew, for your help!  Paula Blalock and Helen Uzarski, faithful volunteers, worked extra hours to assist our customers and operate our cash register.  Thank you, Paula and Helen!  Fresh Market gave us cakes, pastries, and pies for our concession and we sold hot dogs with the trimmings.  Thank you, Fresh Market!  Thank you, Stevi B’s Pizza, Red Lobster, Krispy Kreme, and Little Big Town Barbershop & Salon for donating door prices.  Also, thank you, Honey Baked Ham, for donating a ham for a raffle!

Mr. Larry Flanagan donated a ceiling fan and installed it at Julie’s House.  Mr. Flanagan is a member of John S. Davidson Masonic Lodge #677.  Thank you, Mr. Flanagan!

June 3rd, 4th, and 5th three groups of young people from Warren Baptist Church held work parties at our thrift store.  They did an excellent job sorting donations and making our store look wonderful.  Grant Janik is student pastor for the church.  Thank you, Warren Baptist Church young people and Grant, for your help and support! 

We now have two ladies and eight children at Julie’s House.  Seven of our children are looking forward to beginning a new school year very soon and our two year-old baby girl goes to daycare while her mommy works.  One of our ladies desperately needs a minivan or SUV for her family.  She has a valid driver’s license.  If you have a vehicle that you would like to donate or can help us to acquire one, please call me at 706-836-2781.  The fair market value of the vehicle is tax deductible.

We need household supplies and would appreciate donations of paper products, laundry detergent, automatic dishwashing detergent, hand dishwashing detergent, 13 gallon garbage bags, and size 3T pull-up diapers.  You may bring these items to Making Ends Meet Bargain Center during our business hours.

Pat Bourke

ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS

BAG DAY SALES at Making Ends Meet Bargain Center

• $6.00 per bag. Includes clothes, books, and stuffed animals only.
• 3850 Washington Road – Martinez, Georgia – La Petite Plaza  
• Every business day in July, August, and September 

Regular Making Ends Meet Bargain Center Hours

• Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday – 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. 
  
• Saturday – 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M .

COOKBOOK FOR SALE

• PRICE:  $15.00
  
• 400 Delicious recipes!  Great gift idea!
  
• Purchase at Making Ends Meet Bargain Center

                                                                     
Julie’s House, Inc., is incorporated as a nonprofit organization, is registered with the Georgia Secretary of State, and has 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.  All contributions are tax deductible.

“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”   Matthew 6:10 

Updates from Pat . . .
Not my will but “Thy will be done” is my prayer.   If it is His will for this ministry to survive and to thrive, He will provide for our needs.   Of this, I am sure.  I give Him all the praise and glory for the many miracles that have brought us this far – from an “impossible dream” to the reality of a place that we call Julie’s House.  Thank you, Lord, for your goodness and mercy!

Columbia County Cares Food Pantry in Appling donated a wonderful cargo van to our ministry.  We are now able to pick up donations for  Making Ends Meet Bargain Center.  They also furnish food and supplies for the residents at our shelter.  David Iverson is the Executive Director.  A huge thank you, Mr. Iverson and all Columbia County Cares volunteers, for your help!

I attended the evening worship service at Old Union Baptist Church in Harlem March 24th.  This congregation has made a monthly financial commitment to our ministry and a group of five young people and their leader, Lisa Huynh, gave their time to do housekeeping and yard work at Julie’s House.  Rev. Rodney Bodiford pastors the church. Thank you, Rev. Bodiford, Lisa, young people, and Old Union Baptist Church, for your support and for the warm welcome I received when I visited your church.

Mrs. Roper’s 5th grade class at Lake Forest Hills Elementary School collected donations for our ministry and wrote beautiful letters to the children residing at our shelter.  Thank you, Mrs. Roper and 5th grade class, for caring!

We participated in the WRDW News 12 Time to Care Family Fair April 14th at the Augusta Commons.  Bryce Craps, Promotions Coordinator for Channel 12 News, extended the invitation. It is an awesome annual community event. Virginia Summerall, our treasurer, did a craft project with the children.  First Christian Church of Belvedere donated the supplies for the project and their board chairperson, Shirley Gregory, assisted us the day of the event.  Virginia’s husband, Rev. Milton Summerall, pastors the church.  Mike Armstrong, Mike Askew, and Brenda Smith, members of our board of directors attended and assisted in promoting our ministry.  Ethel Tomlin, Andrea Nasworthy, Tina Oppelt, and Helen Uzarski, some of faithful volunteers and staff, did a fabulous job managing the thrift store.  A heartfelt thanks to all of you!  It was a “fun day”. 

The John S. Davidson Masonic Lodge #677 held a yard sale and sold bar-be-que sandwiches at our thrift store May 18th.  They donated the merchandise left-over from their sale to our thrift store.  Bob Veatch, a member of the lodge, was the coordinator and was assisted by several other lodge members.  We enjoyed the delicious food and the fellowship.  Thank you, Mr. Veatch and John S. Davidson Masonic Lodge #677!  Virginia Summerall and Mike Askew, board members, helped us with the event.  Thank you, Virginia and Mike!  Also, Larry Flanagan, a member of the lodge, and his friend, Stevie, cut the grass at our shelter and made our lawn and playground look really neat.  Thank you, Mr. Flanagan and Stevie! 

Kenny Giet, a member of the Hale Sunday School class at West Acres Baptist Church, continues to do repairs on our facility.  Thank you, Kenny!

Jim Wiggins, the property manager at our thrift store location, cut the grass at Julie’s House and helped us to prepare for the Masonic Lodge’s yard sale. Thank you, Mr. Wiggins, for all that you do for us!

Pat Bourke
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS

What: BAG DAY SALES at Making Ends Meet Bargain Center. $6.00 per bag. Includes clothes, books, and stuffed animals only.
Where: 3850 Washington Road – Martinez, Georgia – La Petite Plaza  
When: Every business day in May, June, & July

Regular Making Ends Meet Bargain Center Hours

• Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday – 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. 
  
• Saturday – 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M .

COOKBOOK FOR SALE

• PRICE:  $15.00
  
• 400 Delicious recipes!  Great gift idea!
  
• Purchase at Making Ends Meet Bargain Center

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”  Proverbs  22:6

Updates from Pat . . .

“Train” children in environments of poverty and domestic violence and they “will not turn from it”.  If someone does not intervene, they become our next generation of welfare and food stamps recipients, victims of domestic violence, batterers, homeless single moms, and “deadbeat” dads. They fill our jails and homeless shelters.  The cycle goes on-and-on and this segment of our population is steadily growing.  Christian friends, please help us to save the children!

The Hale Sunday school class from West Acres Baptist Church held a work party at Julie’s House and they did some much needed repairs.  They made a list of projects and will continue to assist us in keeping our facility maintained.  Kenny Giet heads the committee and he also, personally, donated a kitchen stove.  Thank you, Kenny, Hale Sunday school class, and West Acres Baptist Church!

Members of The Sanctuary of Augusta donated two van loads of paper products to our shelter and gave us a monetary donation to cover the cost of a new computer when ours “crashed”.    Thank you, The Sanctuary of Augusta, for so generously supporting our ministry!

Warren Baptist Church invited Julie’s House to participate in their Sharing Hope Missions Celebration March 10th.  Thank you, Warren Baptist Church, for giving us the opportunity to share our message!

WRDW-TV Channel 12 continues to give us public service announcements to promote Making Ends Meet Bargain Center and our ministry.  Mark Hodges, Marketing/Promotions Manager for the station, asked me to do a taped testimonial as to how our ministry has benefited from their help and promotions.  They are hoping to receive Gabby Awards from the Georgia Association of Broadcasters and will use this in their presentation.  Thank you, WRDW-TV Channel 12! You very much deserve a Gabby Award in every category!

The following is a reprint from our June 2008 newsletter:

She had been the “bread winner” for the family for a long time and her husband was now ill.  They were from another city.  She quit her job and she and her daughter came to Augusta to be near the hospital where her husband was a patient.  They had lost everything but their car, their clothes, and a few personal belongings—only what she could pack into the car.  A caseworker at the hospital asked me to help her find shelter.  After a brief conversation with the lady, I discovered that her husband was abusive to her and to their daughter.  She said “he hasn’t hit me since 2003 but he is mean to me and our daughter.”  I made arrangements for them to go to a domestic violence shelter outside of Augusta and a wonderful “friend of Julie’s House” bought food for them and gas for the trip.  I have talked with this client several times since she entered the shelter.  She said,”Ms. Bourke, I have a good job now and my daughter and I are so happy.  Thank you!”

I have not been in contact with this lady for several years but I feel confident that she and her daughter are still doing well.  The daughter is now a young lady and graduates from high school this year.  She escaped from the cycle of violence and poverty and has been “trained in the way she should go”.  Julie’s House made the difference in the life of a child with only a phone call and a referral.

God bless you!  Happy Easter!
Pat Bourke


Making Ends Meet Bargain Center 

• Hours – Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday – 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. – Saturday – 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.
• 3850 Washington Road – Martinez, Georgia – La Petite Plaza
  
• La Petite Plaza – Suites 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, & 1F
• Off of Washington Road between CSRA Camperland and Bojangle’s
• $6.00 bag sale every business day in March & April
• Includes clothes, shoes, books, and stuffed animals

COOKBOOK FOR SALE

• PRICE:  $15.00
  
• 400 Delicious recipes!  Great gift idea!
• Purchase at: Making Ends Meet Bargain Center
• 3850 Washington Road – Martinez, Georgia – La Petite Plaza

LEADERSHIP

• Michael J. Armstrong, President                                                              
• Brenda J. Smith, Board Member
• Isaac C. Askew, III, Vice-President                                                       
• Annette S. Dumais, Board Member
• Virginia W. Summerall, Treasurer
• Patricia B. Bourke, Executive Director                                             

MAKE A DONATION
Julie’s House, Inc., is incorporated as a nonprofit organization, is registered with the Georgia Secretary of State, and has 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.  All contributions are tax deductible.

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”  Romans 15:4

Updates from Pat . . .

The last chapter of 2012 has been written.  It was a challenging year but it “was written to teach us”.

Christmas at Julie’s House was great in every way.  The Woodmen of the World Lodge #1571 hosted their annual Christmas party for our Julie’s House residents.  Santa Claus gave gifts to everyone and the pizza and desserts were delicious.  Thank you, Peggy and John Ryder and Woodmen of the World Lodge #1571!  We had a wonderful time as we do every year!  Thank you, youth of Old Union Baptist Church, for the cookies, hand-made blankets, and other gifts that you brought to our children.  Also, thank you, Donna Lee, for being Santa’s helper!  The children loved the many presents that Santa left under our tree.  Donna is director of the Columbia County Foundation for Children. The ladies at Julie’s House prepared Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.  Thank you, Broad Street Ministry Center, for the Thanksgiving food and,  Jimmy and Linda Allen, for the gift of a turkey for our Christmas dinner.

I am so pleased to announce that Julie’s House received a $12,000.00 grant from The Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area.  The Master’s Golf Tournament is the primary benefactor of this grant.  Mr. R. Lee Smith, Jr., is President/CEO of The Community Foundation.  Thank you, Master’s Golf Tournament and Mr. Smith, for so generously supporting our community. Tom Sorrells made a presentation for us at the press conference at the Enterprise Mill Events Center December 7th.  Thank you, Tom, for your continuous encouragement and help.

There is more fabulous news.  We received a $3,000.00 grant from the Border Bash Foundation.  Mike Armstrong, our board president, accepted the check and made a presentation at the press conference at the offices of Beasley Broadcasting Group December 14th.  Mike is a UGA alumni and member of the Georgia Bulldogs Club.  Mike has served on our board since 2005.  Tommy Rogers is a member of the Border Bash Foundation Committee and we can always count on his support for our cause.  Thank you Mike, Tommy, and Border Bash Foundation! 

Our 4th Anniversary Yard Sale was a huge success.  We had record sales at Making Ends Meet Bargain Center. Thank you, Mott’s Bar-B-Que Restaurant, for donating the bar-b-que for our concession.

We appreciate so very much all of the wonderful publicity that WRDW-TV Channel 12 has given us.  Their “Time to Care” promotions and public service announcements have brought us many donations for our thrift store and lots of new customers and supporters.  Thank you: WRDW-TV; Fran Lane, Account Executive; Mark Hodges, Marketing/Promotions Manager; Bryce Craps, Station & Community Events Manager; and citizens of the CSRA; for taking the “Time to Care”.  Also, a huge thanks to Jim Wiggins, property manager at La Petite Plaza, for helping us to accept and store the donations.

The Devore and Hale Sunday school classes at West Acres Baptist Church have adopted our ministry as their mission project for 2013. Jeff Kertscher is Community and Missions Pastor for the church.  Thank you, Jeff, West Acres Baptist Church, and Sunday school classes.

The baby boy at Julie’s House is now four months old and his mommy is ready to go to work.  She desperately needs transportation to make this possible.  In fact, we have another lady that also needs transportation.  If you have a vehicle that you would like to donate, please call me at 706-836-2781.  Fair market value of the donation is tax deductible.

I have said “thank you” many times in this newsletter.  Thank you,  Jesus, for all of the devoted Christians that lovingly help our homeless families.  Happy New Year!  We “have hope”!

Pat Bourke
 
WISH LIST

1. Vehicles for two of the residents at Julie’s House
2. Volunteers at our thrift store
3. “Power of Ten” commitments – give $10.00 a month and ask ten others to do the same
4. Household paper products and sizes 2 and 3 baby diapers
5. Kitchen stove – freestanding – 30 in. wide
6. Two double-pane windows – openings 31-1/2 x 51 and 32 x 52-1/2
7. Churches to include Julie’s House in their annual budgets

Making Ends Meet Bargain Center

• Weekday Hours: Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday – 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. 
• Saturday Hours: 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.
  
• La Petite Plaza – Suites 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, & 1F
• Off of Washington Road between CSRA Camperland and Bojangle’s
• $6.00 bag sale every business day in January and February
• Bags can include clothes, shoes, handbags, and stuffed animals

Upcoming Events: Support Group Meeting

• February 28th – 5:30 P.M. 
• Support for victims of domestic violence and survivors, single women raising children alone, and ladies who support our ministry. 
• RSVP 706-836-2781  
• We serve dinner

Originally published in the Augusta Chronicle. 
By Lisa Kaylor

Area children and others in need will reap the benefits from Augusta’s largest tailgate party.

The Border Bash Foundation distributed money it raised during Border Bash 2012 to representatives of 17 charities at Beasley Broadcast Studios on Friday.

For 19 years, the Border Bash Foundation has distributed nearly $700,000 to charities and expects to top $750,000 for its 20th anniversary next year, said Joel Simmons, the president of the Georgia Bulldog Club.

As they received their checks, representatives told board members of the Georgia Bulldog Club and the Augusta Gamecock Club exactly how the money would help their organization.

Several charities will help families of children who are being treated in area hospitals.

Joe Stevenson, the director of the 12 Bands of Christmas, said his organization will use the money to assist families of children who have pediatric cancer.

“Basically … not only do we bring music to the patients at the hospital, but we get requests from the families through the hospital social worker for power bills, mortgage payments – just immediate needs they can’t quite pay for while their child is being treated at the (Medical College of Georgia) Children’s Medical Center,” he said.

Others, such as Girls on the Run and the Georgia-Carolina Council of the Boys Scouts of America, will use the funding to provide scholarships for children who ordinarily could not afford to participate in their programs.

Still others will use the money to help children cope with and heal from traumatic experiences.

“One of the children we helped this year was last year actually being locked in a closet. He spent the year being afraid and scared,” said Margaret Ford, the executive director of The Children’s Place Inc. “This year, we’ve been able to help him not be afraid anymore. This money will actually go directly into our therapy. Thank you very much.”

Other recipients were the Boys & Girls Clubs of the CSRA, the Center for New Beginnings, Child Enrichment, the Child and Family Development Center, the Community Foundation of the CSRA, Easter Seals of East Georgia, the Children’s Medical Center, Golden Harvest Food Bank, Julie’s House, Kids Restart, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Storyland Theatre and the United Way of the CSRA.

The Border Bash is an annual pep rally featuring cheerleaders, mascots and live music held before the Georgia-South Carolina college football game.

2012 RECIPIENTS
These charities received money raised during Border Bash 2012:
• 12 Bands of Christmas
• Georgia-Carolina Council of the Boy Scouts of America
• Boys & Girls Club of the CSRA
• Center for New Beginnings
• Child Enrichment
• Children’s Place Inc.
• Child and Family Development Center
• Community Foundation of the CSRA
• Easter Seals of East Georgia
• GHSU Children’s Medical Center
• Girls on the Run
• Golden Harvest Food Bank
• Julie’s House
• Kids Restart
• Ronald McDonald House
• Storyland Theatre
• United Way of the CSRA

Originally published in the Augusta Chronicle
By Meg Mirshak

A passenger van, a job skills coach, scholarship money and arts programming were among the gifts funded by community grants awarded Friday.

Forty nonprofit organizations and area service agencies received a share of $475,000 from the Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area. The foundation, whose Unrestricted Grant Fund is primarily funded by the Masters Tournament, has given to nonprofit groups since 1996.

This year, the recipients included Child Enrichment Inc., Broad Street Ministry, Friendship Community Center and Julie’s House Inc.

Compass Youth Mentoring, a group that works with east Augusta elementary and middle school pupils filtering into Laney High School, received a $10,460 grant to purchase a passenger van.

The van will haul children from the program’s current meeting place at River Glen Apartments to May Park Community Center, program director John Williams said.

The grant applications were reviewed by 20 volunteer panels consisting of 140 area leaders.

They visited the agencies, reviewed applications and made recommendations from the 122 grant proposals.

Lee Smith, the president and CEO of the Community Foundation, said the grant recipients represent small and large nonprofits. Some grant winners were lesser-known organizations that fill a substantial community need.

“We are looking for pressing and changing needs throughout the community,” Smith said. “Our panels do such a magnificent job on their site visits determining who, this year, will give the most impact to this community.”

Hope House, a residential treatment facility for women who suffer from substance abuse and mental health disorders, will use a $10,460 grant to hire and train a job-skills coach.

“This person will work directly with our case manager and directly with employers in the community,” said Karen Saltzman, the executive director of Hope House.

A $9,295 grant was awarded to When Help Can’t Wait, a volunteer organization that donates toiletries, clothing, hearing aids and other items to nursing home residents on Medicare or Medicaid and without family.

“We act as a surrogate family, and we take them all those simple, convenient things that you and I take for granted,” said Helen McVicker, the group’s president.

With the grant, When Help Can’t Wait will expand its thrift store, where it sells items to generate revenue to purchase items for nursing home residents.

Julie's House was one of the 40 awardees 

Julie’s House Inc.:
A $12,000 grant for the continued provision of a shelter and other necessities to homeless women and their children, giving them the opportunity to further their education, acquire job skills and seek employment so they can become independent and self-sufficient.

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Updates from Pat . . .

I ask that you “pray continually” with me for the survival of the Julie’s House Ministry. I will “be joyful always” for the many lives that have been changed since we began in 2004 and “give thanks” for “all circumstances” that led me to serve the helpless – homeless children and their mothers.

When I am discouraged, I remember those who have so greatly benefited because our ministry exists. I am reminded of a lady and her two children that I wrote about in my April 2008 newsletter and would like to share this story again and give you an update on this little family.

It was Thursday morning and it was winter. I received a call from a motel. I have paid for many nights of lodging for our clients at this motel so the desk clerk knows me well. She called me in desperation. She said, “Ms. Bourke, I have a big problem. A man, his wife, and their children have been staying here for several weeks. The man left yesterday and the lady has no money to pay for the room. I just could not put her and the little children out in the cold last night so I let them stay. I am going to be fired if someone doesn’t pay”. I called all of the local shelters. There were no beds available for a woman with children so I called shelters in other towns. I finally located one that could take them. I drove to the motel, paid for the lodging, and arranged for their transportation to the shelter. “Gifts” paid for the lodging and transportation. Thank you for “giving”!

The children were nine and three years of age when I met them so they are now thirteen and seven. Their mother home-schooled them and their father had never allowed them to be with other children. The last time that I talked with the mother she said, "my children are so happy and I have graduated from college with a degree in nursing”. She had her GED when I met her and she is now a registered nurse. The cost to Julie House was a few nights of lodging in a motel and a tank of gas. To God be the glory!

George Champion, our delivery driver, continues to recuperate from injuries from his accident. Please pray for George and his family and for his complete recovery.

We opened the doors for business at Making Ends Meet Bargain Center November 28, 2008 – “Black Friday”. We began with 900-sq. ft. of showroom space and in eighteen months grew to 6,000-sq. ft. Please join us to celebrate our 4th Anniversary. On November 23 – “Black Friday” – we will have a huge yard sale complete with door prizes and bar-b-que sandwiches. Mot’s Bar-b-Que Restaurant is donating the bar-b-que. Thank you, Mot’s Bar-b-Que Restaurant! Tickets for lunch are available at our thrift store. The cost for a combo is $2.50 in advance and $3.00 the day of the event. Join us for fun, fellowship, and great bargains!

Our wonderful and faithful volunteers and staff have made it possible for us to keep the doors open at Julie’s House. All profits from our thrift store support our facility. Virginia Summerall donates the supplies, stamps the envelopes, and delivers our newsletters to the printer and the mailing service. InkBoy prints them for free. This is a huge savings and big help! Also, I am blessed with a dedicated and awesome board of directors. Thank you and God bless you, Virginia, volunteers, staff, and board of directors for a job well done!

I am very pleased to announce that Virginia Summerall has been elected to serve on our board of directors. Thank you, Virginia!

Our volunteers/staff/board Christmas party will be Thursday, December 6, at 7:00 P.M. at Harbor Inn Restaurant, 3404 Wrightsboro Road. Please RSVP 706-836-2781. Hope you can attend.

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Pat Bourke

COOKBOOK - FABULOUS CHRISTMAS GIFT 

• PRICE: $15.00 - 400 Delicious recipes! 
• Purchase at Making Ends Meet Bargain Center
• 3850 Washington Road – Martinez, Georgia – La Petite Plaza
  

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Volunteers/staff/board Christmas party – Harbor Inn Restaurant – 3404 Wrightsboro Road – Thursday, December 6, 2012, 7:00 P.M. RSVP 706-836-2781

• Support group meeting – Christmas party – December 13, 2012. There will be no meeting in November. Fun and fellowship for ladies who are survivors of domestic violence and Julie’s House supporters. Please call 706-836-2781 for reservations. We serve dinner.
  

Michael J. Armstrong, President Brenda J. Smith, Board Member
Isaac C. Askew, III, Vice-President Virginia W. Summerall, Board Member
Annette S. Dumais, Treasurer
Patricia B. Bourke, Executive Director

“A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.”  Proverbs 22:9

People often ask me, “what do the ladies and children at Julie’s House need?”  The answer is always the same.  They need a roof over their heads, a bed to sleep in, a place where they feel safe and secure, food, clothing, and transportation.  The Julie’s House organization needs money to pay the mortgage, utilities, insurance, garbage disposal, and pest control; to purchase vehicles; and to hire staff so that we are able to provide these necessities.  We especially need additional staff.  I “wear many hats” and the burden is becoming too heavy.

We do not solicit or accept government funding.  It is my opinion that it is not the responsibility of our government to provide for the poor.  I believe that it is the responsibility of Christians.  It seems that when the government is involved, there are layers of bureaucracy, waste, and fraud and not enough accountability on the part of the recipients.   The goal of Julie’s House is to provide the opportunity and tools for our clients to become productive, tax-paying citizens, to rescue the children from the cycle of poverty, and to teach and show them the love of Jesus Christ.  We expect and require their cooperation.  We need money to accomplish this!

With our country’s economy as it is, homelessness is epidemic - especially among single women with children.   Many homeless children and their mothers in the CSRA are living with friends or relatives, moving from house-to-house, living crowded together in motel rooms, and, worst yet, sleeping in their cars (if they are fortunate enough to have a car).  I had a call from a church this week.  A lady and her child came to the church for help.  They had slept in their car for three nights.  As a matter of fact, I was just interrupted by a phone call.  A lady and her two children, ages 11 years and 8 years, slept in their car last night.  Julie’s House is full as well as all of the other shelters in our area.  This is real, this is local, and this is serious! 

We are at the crossroads.  We need the financial support of those that believe in our mission or it will be difficult to continue.  The proceeds from our thrift store, contributions, and grants are not meeting our financial needs.  I am asking that you join our “Power of Ten Campaign” - make a commitment of $10.00 a month - or as much as you are able to give - and ask ten friends, family members, or co-workers to do the same.  We need churches to include Julie’s House in their annual budgets, Sunday school classes to give love offerings, help to sell our cookbook, advocates with civic organization, and groups to sponsor fundraisers on our behalf.  We need many, many Christians sharing this tremendous task.  “A generous man will himself be blessed . . .”

George Champion, our delivery driver, had an accident in our pick-up truck and at this writing is in the hospital recovering from his injuries.  Mark Thompson was a passenger in the vehicle and he is recuperating at home.  He was hospitalized for a short time for tests.  Please pray with me for George, Mark, and their families during this difficult time.

We are now without a vehicle to pick up and deliver donated items for our thrift store.  We are depending on donors to bring them to us during our business hours.  

A ladies prayer group at Warren Baptist Church provided backpacks and school supplies for all of the school-aged children at Julie’s House.  LeeAnne Redfern coordinated the effort, collected the supplies, and delivered them to our children.  Thank you, LeeAnne and ladies!  We appreciate your kindness and generosity!

The drama club at Grovetown High School held a work party at our thrift store August 18.  Rashad Dunn is their teacher and Bailey Hammett, a member of the club, recommended Julie’s House as a worthy project. Thank you, Rashad, Bailey, and drama club members, for doing a great job for us!

VOTE NOVEMBER 6TH!!

Pat Bourke
 
COOKBOOK FOR SALE

• PRICE:  $15.00  
• 400 Delicious recipes!  
• Great gift idea!
• Purchase at Making Ends Meet Bargain Center - 3850 Washington Road – Martinez, Georgia – La Petite Plaza

Making Ends Meet Bargain Center Bag Days

• October 3, 4, 5, & 6
  
• October 31 & November 1, 2, & 3
• $6.00 for a bag of clothes, shoes, purses, and/or stuffed animals
• La Petite Plaza – Suites 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, & 1F - Off of Washington Road between CSRA Camperland and Bojangle’s
• Hours – Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday – 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. – Saturday – 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.  

Support Group Meetings 

• September 20
  
• October 18
  
• Fun and fellowship for ladies who are survivors of domestic violence and Julie’s House supporters.  
  
• Please call 706-836-2781 for reservations.  
  
• We serve dinner.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Updates from Pat . . .

I fill each issue of this newsletter with many positives about the Julie’s House organization. I can also give many reasons that I should “throw in the towel”, “give up”, “quit”—I have already retired from one job, I do not have the proper formal education for the task, this ministry is too time consuming, we do not have enough financial support to accomplish our goals, some of our clients have disappointed me . . . This list can go on and on. I know that God “will be with me”, I will “not be discouraged”, and I will not quit. We have helped many children and many more need help. Please support our ministry!

June was a month that the temptation to “quit” was almost overwhelming. After we paid the bills, we had no financial “cushion” and many of our volunteers were on vacation. As He always does and always will, God came through for us. We received the usual monthly contributions from our faithful supporters and some unexpected contributions. Sales at our thrift store are good and we are managing to keep it “up and running” with a smaller staff. To God be the glory!

This month we received a check for $3,500.00 from the Augusta National Golf Club Employee Giving Program. Five employees selected Julie’s House to be the recipient of this wonderful gift. Thank you, Augusta National Golf Club and employees!

The Children’s Ministry at Abilene Baptist Church collected $2,184.00 for our ministry at their Vacation Bible School. Ginger Custer is Director of The Children’s Ministry for the church. Thank you, Ginger, children, and Abilene Baptist Church, for this awesome gesture!

Barry Paschal, Publisher of ­The Columbia County News-Times, wrote a beautiful column in his newspaper about our ministry. The title is “Mission of Julie’s House is a lot to talk about” and it appeared in the June 10, 2012, edition. Barry’s wife, Michelle, is the principal at Stevens Creek Elementary School and several of the children at Julie’s House have attended her school. That is how they became acquainted with our ministry. They brought us truckloads of donations and many toiletry items collected by the Hope Soap organization. Thank you so very much, Barry and Michelle, for your support! The donations and sales at our thrift store have increased because of the article in your newspaper and the donations are fabulous. It will be a very long time before the ladies and children at Julie’s House are out of shampoo, toothpaste, and soap!

One of the residents at Julie’s House needs a vehicle. Her SUV needs repairs and the estimated cost far exceeds its value. She depends on a co-worker for transportation to and from work and to run errands. Can you imagine depending on public transportation or friends to get to work and the grocery store? If you have a vehicle that you would like to donate, please call me at 706-836-2781. The fair market value is tax deductible.

At this time, our income is not sufficient to provide our ladies with legal counsel for divorces and child custody. Please help me to “spread the word” that this is a huge need and pray that attorneys in our community will step forward and donate their services for a very good cause. Each one giving a little will not be a big burden on anyone.

Thank you, volunteers and churches that have held work parties at our thrift store. We always need more help. Just drop by the store and sign up to volunteer.

“God will be with you wherever you go”.

Pat Bourke

Cookbook for Sale
PRICE: $15.00
400 Delicious recipes! Great gift idea! 

Published by The Columbia County News-Times
By Barry L. Paschal 

One of her charity’s workers laughed heartily when I said his boss could talk the ears off a mule.

But Pat Bourke has a lot to talk about.

The founder of Julie’s House and its primary funding mechanism, the Making Ends Meet Bargain Center, Bourke is a petite whirlwind of information as she talks about her mission.

I was chatting with her because Julie’s House now is one of the beneficiaries of Hope Soap, the toiletry collection drive that gathers items (typically) from travelers who bring back the free stuff from hotel rooms. The News-Times office is a drop-off site, and when there’s enough collected, I’ll take it to one of the local agencies for distribution to those in need.

Julie’s House is one of those agencies. It provides a place to stay for a dozen women and children, usually those who have either been victims of domestic violence or who otherwise find themselves on the verge of homelessness.

Bourke founded Julie’s House a little more than four years ago after retiring from the Georgia Department of Labor, where she learned plenty about bureaucratic roadblocks. She also learned a lot about how much unmet need there is in the community for women and children on the margins.

Since then, she’s poured heart and soul, and money, into providing the home where the women and kids have a roof over their heads, life-skills training and other support services.

But just as working in a government bureaucracy taught her about the labyrinth that awaits anyone legitimately seeking assistance (fraudsters seem to glide right through), the experience of running a shelter also has taught Bourke that no matter how much is done, more is needed.

More than once, in fact, she and her helpers quoted from Jesus’ Parable of the Talants, which boiled down means the reward for hard work is more work.

While the agency receives occasional grants and assistance from kind individuals, the thrift store is a steady source of income. Bourke proudly gives a tour.

Making Ends Meet started with just 900 square feet in La Petite Plaza, a little strip in Martinez. It now has grown to the other side of the lot in a parallel building, filling a 6,000-square-foot thrift store with all manner of items.

The sale of those items helps fund Julie’s House, helping keep at-risk women and children off the street.

Want to help?

• Donate items or shop at Making Ends Meet. They’re open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

• Donate money to Making Ends Meet at the store, or at P.O. Box 204235, Martinez, Ga., 30907. You also can find them at www.julies-house.org.

• Volunteer. Many hands make light work.

There’s still a lot of work to be done, and that’s why Pat Bourke has so much to talk about.

God bless her and her mission.

(Barry L. Paschal is publisher of The Columbia County News-Times. Email barry.paschal@newstimes online.com, or call 706-863-6165, extension 106. Follow at http://www.twitter.com/barrypaschal.)