Home > Snellville.Talk > Archives > 2007 > August > 23 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMinistry’s closed doors reflect on us all
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Suan Gast/AJC
Mike Clotfelter, a member of Snellville United Methodist Church working on the ramp and deck construction, as the project drawings lay in front. The man to the left with his back to the camera (blue T-shirt with fish on it) is Don Powell, also a volunteer from Snellville UMC.
Irony can be amusing. But not in the tale of the Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry.
It’s ironic that a non-profit organization annually providing food, clothes, rent and utility assistance to 9,000 folks has been homeless itself for more than a year.
And it’s ironic that in a county where new houses and stores sprout — seemingly overnight — two modular buildings to be used by the co-op remain unauthorized for business more than 12 months after being put in place.
No, in the case of the co-op, the ironies are frustrating to everyone involved. That list is long. It includes:
Beth Moffat, director of the co-op, who has overseen the organization at two previous locations and through the search for her third.
The Rev. Matt Henning, pastor of Community of Grace church, whose Lutheran congregation is providing the site and much of the volunteer work for the co-op’s new home at 1200 U.S. 78 in Grayson.
Schools that collect canned goods for the co-op and turn to it when students’ families need help.
Volunteers, weary of waiting, who have moved on.
Snellville area churches who supported the co-op and referred people for its services, but have begun questioning the delays as they try to help those who show up on church doorsteps seeking assistance.
And the families and individuals in need, who have had to brave those doorsteps or head to other food banks in the county.
The co-op’s past year and a half has been riddled with misunderstandings, miscommunication, starts, stops, backtracking and red tape. There have been problems involving county permits and inspections. There have been problems with the installation of footings for the modular buildings. Building plans have been lost more than once. A few churches have withdrawn financial support.
The blame has been batted about, with few left untouched.
One person, acting anonymously, sent a letter to area churches, raising questions about the ethics, financial stewardship and decision-making of the co-op’s management.
Some think the city of Snellville and local churches should have done more to help the co-op during its search for a new home. Some point to mistakes and delays by professionals and companies. Others say the county government has been unclear, and at times unreasonable, about what was required to get the new site in order. The county says it has tried to work with those involved in the project, but standards must be met.
The list goes on.
A moment of personal disclosure here: My family occasionally volunteered at the co-op, sorting canned goods and such. I met the former director, Don Ashworth, and I knew Moffat through church activities before she joined the organization.
When I first visited the co-op, it was in a building owned by and located behind Snellville First Baptist. From there, it moved to a small shopping center on U.S. 78, in front of Snellville City Hall. That location, owned by Snellville United Methodist Church, was transferred to city ownership as part of a property swap, and the shopping center was marked to be torn down. The co-op was required to move out last summer. When other options fell through, Community of Grace offered a location, and the co-op arranged for the placement and rental of modular units on the site. That’s when the permtting difficulties began.
Snellville Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer said city officials felt bad that they couldn’t find another location for the co-op. But the city cannot provide free space to an organization, and other suitable sites have been hard to come by, he said.
I stopped by the new co-op site more than once this past week and found volunteers sweating in the brutal heat to build a required deck and handicapped ramp and fill in with dirt under the buildings.
I talked to Moffat and the Rev. Henning. I’ve also talked to the provider of the modular buildings, to the engineering firm, to county officials, churches and individuals.
Everyone acknowledged that mistakes have been made. A few owned up to making one or two of them themselves.
Most said they support the mission of the co-op.
Yet the doors are still closed.
I understand the need for strict standards for buildings used by the public. But I can also imagine the difficulty of navigating building and development procedures when you are not familiar with the process — or even if you are. If there are also personality or political or contract difficulties, well … .
Moffat and the Rev. Henning say they just want to get the co-op open and start serving people again.
“We built this whole [Community of Grace] campus in eight months from groundbreaking to move-in.” the Rev. Henning said, “I’ve opened other churches. But what we’ve been through in this process has been beyond comprehension.”
There have been “saints” who have worked passionately along the way, they said. But there have also been critics.
“I can’t tell you I’ve done everything right,” Moffat said. “I’m sure I’ve made mistakes. But I’ve done everything they asked me to do.”
The criticism, particularly the anonymous letter, has been “hurtful,” she said.
“I don’t disagree with people asking questions,” she said. “But to say I didn’t look hard enough for a new home, or to assume we’ve done nothing or are pocketing resources or are not good stewards — that was hard.”
Snellville City Councilman Warren Auld said he supports the co-op “unequivocally, as an individual and as a council member. “I wish it were still inside the city.” As a private attorney, Auld has recently provided free legal guidance to the organization.
“They are doing what the Gospel says you are supposed to do — feed the poor,” he said.
“We’ve got cold weather coming up, kids are back in school.” Auld said. “I don’t know how this story will unravel. My real concern is that the co-op can open back up and serve those in need.”
This week, work was continuing and county officials were visiting the site to provide inspections and guidance on what is still required. Leaders are hoping the doors can reopen in a matter of weeks, but they are scared to promise. They’ve been wrong before.
They also are hoping that once the co-op reopens, relationships with churches and others can be rebuilt.
I can’t sit in judgment of what has happened. But — excepting those who have been toiling to make it right — we all are to blame.
This reflects poorly on our community. It reflects poorly on the governments, the churches, the businesses and the citizens.
A non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to help those in need has been allowed to shut its doors and wallow in homelessness and red tape for more than a year.
Regardless of the reasons, that’s wrong.
Permalink | Comments (26) | Post your comment | Categories: Susan Gast
Comments
By Greg
August 23, 2007 6:40 AM | Link to this
I have noticed various occasions where an entity related to a religious organization has had to endure what seems to be excessive scrutiny from the local government agencies when trying to relocate or build a new facility. This not only applies to Gwinnett but other jurisdictions as well. It gives you the impression that government, at every level, goes out of its way to make it difficult for these entities to get established so they can carry out their mission.
By Michael
August 23, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this
This is in response to an article that came on local newspapers under the heading “Hindu community prepares to open Lilburn temple” To the ignorant Indian guy named PATEL who gave interview to the Gwinnett Daily Post saying ” This temple is not like the Christian Church that is open only on Sundays that is indeed a slap in the face of the millions of Christians from Baptists, Methodists to the Catholics, and I challenge him to go and peek in one of these churches and see for yourself! That remark reveals how pathetic and ignorant you are in terms of reality, when you scroll through all these churches you will find pastors, priests and volunteers who are there 7 days a week taking care of their respective parishes! Just because you have built a structure sparkling with idols from cows to snakes and birds and reptiles as your number of Gods increase every now and then… As of you who is trying to hide behind this marble structure which was a source to TRANSFER ILLEGAL TAX EVADED DOLLARS INTO THIS NON PROFIT organization named BAPS of a Particular CASTE society…from the Indian state ofGUJARATwho are always raping and stoning Christian missionaries (go ahead and Google yourself)and to the other guy who mentioned offline that their ultimate goal was to convert America into Hinduism claiming this is the oldest religion in the world; this is what I have got to say. No matter how sparkling your building is, your body is the kingdom of GOD; No matter how many idols you have polished on the outskirts of the temple from the snakes to the cows,** JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY, THE TRUTH & THE LIFE! WAKE UP AAMERICA, THE FIRST THINGS THEY GONNA DO IS TO BAN STEAKS HOLY COW
By blahblahblah
August 23, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this
Get a grip and while your at it a life Michael. Your just as delusional to believe in your God just like any other organized religion. All religions are shams.
Faith and spirituality are supposed to be an individual private matter and was never meant to have such a public in your face “this is the way it is” attitude, exactly like you prescribed in your comment. Not everyone believes as you do… and you are wrong to expect them to do so. Thats especially what is wrong with religion all over this world. Its people and attitudes like yours that continues to divide us as human beings and making this world a difficult place to live.
By Aquagirl
August 23, 2007 3:53 PM | Link to this
Hijacking a blog about a charity for the poor and hungry in need of assistance, to rant in a hateful manner? Way to represent Christianity, Michael. Go google yourself. Maybe the Hindus need to take over and ban steak, all the cholesterol has clogged your brain beyond repair. I’d welcome it, if it would shut pseudo-Christians like yourself up.
As far as the non-profit being homeless, it’s not uncommon for those with good intentions to not have the brains to carry through. In a sense, a non-profit is a business. You have to take care of the administrative junk, like it or not. Those volunteers sweating to build a ramp were undoubtedly doing so to meet ADA standards. A good case of when the government tries to make our lives better, it just screws everything up.
By Adan
August 23, 2007 9:51 PM | Link to this
I fail to see the relevance of that entire post, Michael.
By me me
August 24, 2007 12:47 AM | Link to this
The South didnt have any of these problems when it was only Southerners here……start shootin!
By Ken
August 24, 2007 12:51 AM | Link to this
Michael, You certainly do not represent Christianity very well at all. Where did the love go? All you seem to represent is hate.
By T
August 24, 2007 7:24 AM | Link to this
Great point Greg - could it be that government looks at religious organizations as competition?
By blahblahblah
August 24, 2007 9:45 AM | Link to this
T.. that is the single stupidest thing I have ever heard.
By Tom
August 24, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this
You guys still did’t get the REAL ISSUE HERE…All Michael was commenting was in response to PATELS comment This temple is not like the Christian Church that is open only on Sundays which is indeed a slap in the face of the millions of Christians from Baptists, Methodists to the Catholics. Instead of commenting, you guys went to all the details. For that reason people started commenting on Steak, Hate tec. Michael had too much detail and the readers got lost in the details. “I CAN CONFIRM THAT PATEL DID COMMENT ON GWINNETT DAILY POST” which is indeed a slap in the face of all religions. So he started it, So why not condemn PATEL! As for the steak thing, you guys make your own choices…
By LG
August 24, 2007 11:07 AM | Link to this
If you knew anything about the Hindu religion, you would know that he wasn’t slapping any other religion in the face. You can walk into a Hindu temple any time of the day for a blessing. Churches you have services at specific times for that stuff. He could’ve worded it a little better, but he didn’t slap anyone unless you wanted to be slapped.
Personally, I think Michael must’ve been an Untouchable in India in a past life and has carried the anger over :)
By Tonya
August 24, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this
LG: Guys like you are the ones that bring the TOPIC of UNTOUCHABLES which I assume you must be like the ignorant PATEL who started off all this. But I was indeed planning to stop by the temple since I live near Hwy 29 when I saw all the rules: No shoes inside; No shorts, Blah blah of several others . As for your comment ” You can walk into a Hindu temple any time of the day for a blessing.” From whom? Blessings from Rats, Cows, Reptiles….and for that kinda blessing we have to take our shoes off and meanwhile If I am jogging by, wearing shorts, I can’t come because I have to cover my knees. I would gladly go inside a church, Thanks. ..What is your real name LG? Lick Gobbler? ANDLEAVE MICHAEL ALONE He had a POINT THERE!! LG is the Real UNTOUCHABLE INDEED!!
By Tonya
August 24, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this
LG: Guys like you are the ones that bring the TOPIC of UNTOUCHABLES which I assume you must be like the ignorant PATEL who started off all this. But I was indeed planning to stop by the temple since I live near Hwy 29 when I saw all the rules: No shoes inside; No shorts, Blah blah of several others . As for your comment ” You can walk into a Hindu temple any time of the day for a blessing.” From whom? Blessings from Rats, Cows, Reptiles….and for that kinda blessing we have to take our shoes off and meanwhile If I am jogging by, wearing shorts, I can’t come because I have to cover my knees. I would gladly go inside a church, Thanks. ..What is your real name LG? Lick Gobbler? ANDLEAVE MICHAEL ALONE He had a POINT THERE!! LG is the Real UNTOUCHABLE INDEED!!
By Aquagirl
August 24, 2007 12:37 PM | Link to this
If this is any representation of Methodists, Baptists, etc. Patel should have slapped you in the face harder.
So, back to the ministry trying to feed the poor—-how about doing something with that? Nope. You’d rather diss Susan’s effort to bring some attention to their cause, in favor of going completely off topic and bashing other people.
And are there blog penalties for excessive use of CAPS and bold? How surprising that Michael, Tom, and Tonya all use them at random in the same way. Keep your schizo ID switches to your therapist.
By Tonya
August 24, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this
I Think AquaGirl is PATEL’S untouchable wife
By tonya
August 24, 2007 1:02 PM | Link to this
I Think AquaGirl is PATEL’S untouchable wife who has been abused domestically and verbally
By LG
August 24, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this
tonya,
I have ovaries. I’m not a guy.
I am not going to apologize for my Catholic University education in theology. The one where the priests encouraged us to discover and experience other religions. Perhaps they were comfortable in knowing that we weren’t going to convert to another religion and had to control our thoughts. I do feel sorry for you that you weren’t introduced to this kind of education. Please stop making excuses for not visiting the temple and get educated.
By Tonya
August 24, 2007 2:26 PM | Link to this
LG with Ovaries! Maybe a dozen! You don’t need to have a THEOLOGY DEGREE to have common sense, I may have over reacted a bit! SO if I have hurt anybody’s feelings I am sorry, OK! I didn’t mean to carry on the topic, but its got out of focus. I did not mean to extend my full support to Michael. All I was saying HE HAD A POINT THERE!
By Kaye
August 24, 2007 3:47 PM | Link to this
Back on topic, would it have been possible, or even a consideration for the larger churches in the area to distribute the clothes and food. Perhaps make it a partnership between the church and the charity. They could have set designated days for dropouts, and distribution, that would not have interefered with the churches regular programs.
By Aquagirl
August 24, 2007 5:28 PM | Link to this
Hey, Tonya/whoeveryouareatthemoment, don’t be bashin’ my man Patel. He’ll turn Shiva loose on you.
The topic got out of hand because you hijacked it. Duh.
And the caps “G” in my name, and your automatic assumptions that everyone is a guy? Seen that before. You’re hiding behind your ID of the moment so you don’t get another public smackdown. I don’t mind your trolling, but have a little courtesy for the columnist. She ain’t Jim.
Enough of this silliness—-Have a super weekend! Vishnu loves you!
By blahblahblah
August 24, 2007 6:04 PM | Link to this
Aquagirl: You ought to be more ashamed than anybody else!! This topic was back on track until you came back again and messed up.
Back on topic, would it have been possible, or even a consideration for the larger churches in the area to distribute the clothes and food. Perhaps make it a partnership between the church and the charity.
By AR
August 25, 2007 6:06 PM | Link to this
I find it very interesting that the issue of a dress code was brought up regarding the Hindu Temple. Furthermore, the idea that a Christian church would be a more suitable alternative because of no such rules. Having been to several Catholic churches, the St. Peter’s Basilica included, I find this notion a little ironic.
Dressing modestly is a sign of reverence and respect across the board for several religious institutions (a tradition that the Christian faith has undoubtedly employed as well).
That excuse is weak sauce.
By been there done that
August 26, 2007 4:46 AM | Link to this
There are people that will use the co-op and then call their ‘hood to let them know where to go for help. even when their’hood may have New York or Florida cell phone numbers. People with out of state license plates will make the rounds of churches each and every day - but they call on their cell phones first to see exactly what type of help is available. They want it now. The SE co-op is a wonderful ministry and helpful to those in need. There are families that will get back to school items for their “children” from several agencies - then sell the “gifts”. Same with Christmas - there are actually people who show up in volvos and bmws to get “help” with Christmas presents for their families - from several agencies.
The county agencies - both profit and non-profit need a clearing house of names/addresses. When a person is helped that morning the name/help is entered into the clearing house. That way when they show up somewhere that afternoon claiming no food or power or gas, etc. etc. - the clearing house is contacted. Persons needing help are required to give a picture ID - this helps cut down on fraud.
There are ways to help those in need - and you don’t have to go to downtown ATL - but the churches and other organizations must work together to help those that are in real need.
By Michael H. Smith
August 26, 2007 2:33 PM | Link to this
Is it something in the air? Maybe it’s in the water? Perhaps you know what is really at the gut of this matter Mrs. Gast? So tell me, this itch beneath my skin is just something I ate or is there a stigma attached to Ministries that try to reach out to help people who happen upon hard times and those scruffy homeless urban campers rejected by everyone? You know this kind of article is normally Mr. Badie’s gig but I think he said it best:
Success Lives Here. Oh but of course it does.
Well, be that as it may, some of “the success that lives here” paid me an unsuspecting visit recently. Just about the time Craig Molnar passed away (see Rick Badie’s Blog). While sitting in my parked car, air-conditioning running at full tilt, out of the corner of my eye and soon right beside my car window appeared this tall slender haggard lady on a bicycle who obviously had some problems. Now I’m not one for handing out money to panhandlers but on this occasion it was different. Because it was a female, no, it was inclemently hot — excessively too hot for even the dogs to be out in that scorching heat. I didn’t care that she might be conning me or whatever bad decisions she had made or didn’t make, or if the line she ran on me had any truth in it at all. Yeah just call me Mr. Soft Touch. Not really, it was worth the buck just to get her to go sit down in a cool spot and out of the sun before she dehydrated and get that hamburger she claimed she wanted, which I hope she actually got.
Even with miserable conditions of that time, to have ignored her, told her a lie and said I had no money is about what most of normally would do, – including yours truly.
Regardless of the reasons, that’s wrong.
Needless to say, that incident put a fire under my rump – once again - on something I’ve long sought to see happen. Fortunately, political hunting season is soon going to open up again. The AJC and its’ many OP ED writers will continue to blather on and on about the poor pitiful poor and the homeless. Of course, that is their job and they get paid to write such stuff whether they actually believe heart felt, a single word of what they write. Similarly, the politicians pump out their propaganda to convince us of their compassion and reason away many of the bad choices, bad decisions they’ve made that others have to live with through no fault of their own. Unfortunately, our politicians’ seem never forced to endure the hard times and personal losses produced from their bad choices and bad decisions.
Do you suppose if more politicians had to get assistance from co-op ministries to pay their light-bills a Cooperative Ministry would be homeless?
Do you suppose if we had more homeless politicians, we would have homelessness any longer?
Brother, can you spare a vision
Crops are rotting in the field so pro-illegal alien advocates say (mostly our politicians doing the saying), while the homeless can’t even beg a job (many of whom are U.S. Citizens). Faith based initiatives, the compassionate conservatives demand, will redeem lives in a state of waste. While the lousy lying liberals decry, it as only a move to proselytize.
It leaves the mind to wonder why, these willing workers sleeping in the woods or cars cannot fill the jobs that supposedly, no one wants?
Ministries like this Lawrenceville CO-OP (see Rick Badie’s Blog) always need food, and Hosea Williams feed the hungry will continue to beg turkey for Thanksgiving Day. While the State of Georgia surely has more than a few acres lying dormant to spare, if only one of the compassionate conservatives “una da gold dome” caught a vision of restoring hope, a few farms could be established on spare land to meet a lot of needs, supply a lot of shelter, and most importantly restore an awful lot of dignity stripped away by giving the homeless a reason to believe in their self-worth and in themselves once again.
What say let us see if the good ol’ boys and gals underneath the gold dome and elsewhere around Atlanta will put into actions some of the things others around the country are doing to move the homeless off the streets and back into meaningful lives and livelihoods?
homelessgardenproject.org/about_us/programs.htm
Project Homeless Garden: About us A group of volunteers created the Homeless Garden Project in 1990 to provide a place of safety, beauty, and work opportunities for people who were homeless. Today, we provide a bounty of activities at our 2.5 acre organic garden, attracting a wide variety of individuals living in Santa Cruz County.
groups.ucanr.org/mbmg/Projects/Homeless_Garden.htm Projects Homeless Garden Contact: Mary Edmund When the opportunity is available: Year round, Monday-Friday, 9-4 and occasional Saturdays. Location: • 127 Washington Street, Santa Cruz. Women’s workshop, small flower and herb garden and office. (831) 426-3609 • Shaffer and Delaware Roads (near Natural Bridges State Park). 3.5 acre farm and greenhouse. (831) 423-1020.
History: The Homeless Garden Project (HGP) was founded in 1990 by the Citizens Committee for the Homeless, which operated an emergency shelter program during the winter months. The HGP was a companion program aimed at providing training and jobs within a therapeutic context of an organic garden. Within two years, the effort grew from a portion of an existing community garden on Pelton Street to 2.5 acres of adjacent city owned land. Some of the homeless people were employed and received horticulture training. The new site was large enough to allow for commercial sales of produce at the local Farmers Market and to local restaurants. The HGP expanded again in 1994, leasing a 1.5 acre parcel of land owned by a local developer on Shaffer Road. Within the year the project also leased a former depot building from Union Pacific Railroad and set up an office and workshop where the newly formed Women’s Organic Flower Enterprise (WOFE) began making dried flower and herb wreaths, hand dipped candles and other decorative objects. By 1995 the two enterprises together employed 20 people supervised by four year-round staff. 1998 was a pivotal year. The City of Santa Cruz decided to sell the land on which the original HGP grew its organic produce. Operations were consolidated on a somewhat expanded parcel of land on Shaffer Road and WOFE’s product line continued to grow. The HGP was now the major program of the Citizen’s Committee, demanding increased attention. The decision was made to create a separate non-profit corporation, The Homeless Garden Project, in order to focus exclusively on garden operations. Limited by the temporary nature of its 2 locations, the HGP sought a permanent site. The search ended with Pogonip, a 640 acre open space owned by the City of Santa Cruz. In 1998, the City adopted a master plan which included a nine acre site for the HGP. The move took place in 2002.
Goal: The goal is to employ and train homeless people and low income women in Santa Cruz County within a community supported organic garden enterprise.
What we do at the HGP:
• Offer a supportive, meaningful work environment that encourages self-esteem, responsibility and self-sufficiency;
• Integrate homeless people and the larger community in the security and beauty of a productive garden;
• Practice the principles of economic and ecological sustainability
Why the HGP is needed: Homelessness often goes hand in hand with the lack of job skills and work experience. Other issues complicate the equation: alcoholism, mental illness, substance abuse and depression. The list of obstacles faced by most homeless people is a long one. The HGP helps homeless men and women forge a path back to a safer, more stable world by providing job training and transitional employment during the 3 years of training in horticulture, organic gardening techniques, planting, harvesting and marketing organic produce and flowers. HGP worker/trainees also learn how they can access free and low cost services such as health and dental care, food stamps, shelter, clothing and child care.
What volunteers do and learn: People are limited only by their imagination and time. We welcome all volunteers to learn the techniques of organic farming and the principles of sustainable agriculture. This includes all aspects of farming from growing the starts in the greenhouse to planting, maintaining and harvesting the vegetables and flowers in addition to experience in drying flowers and floral design.
Testimonials: “I really take joy in the community that is the HGP. All kinds of people participate from the mayor, interns from the local colleges and universities, senior citizens and grade school volunteers to the homeless workers themselves. There is a wonderful sense of cooperation and shared leaning! It is wonderful to be part of a program that helps people grow like the plants and gain skills and self confidence needed to find employment, housing and a positive sense of connection to the community in which they live.” Mary Edmund, MG ’98
http://www.legalrecord.net/organic-farming-offers-a-fresh-star.html
Organic Farming Offers a Fresh Start to the Homeless — Tour July 13
By Debra Levey Larson
Urbana - An organic farm may seem like an unlikely place to give homeless people from Chicago a fresh start in society, but Growing Home Farm is much more than just a farm. It’s part half-way house, part business, and part training center — using agriculture as a way to get homeless people off of the street while giving them a work history, a new skill set, and a sense of purpose.
fobh.org/what/farm.php
The Farm at Long Island Shelter
Beside delicious and nutritious produce for the people we serve, The Farm also provides hands-on job training, work-readiness skills, life skills and education for homeless individuals as part of the Serving Ourselves Job Training Program. Participants learn all aspects of food production; soil preparation, a variety of planting techniques, tending the plants, pest control, harvesting and marketing their produce at local farmers markets (approximately 15% is sold at Farmers Markets in Quincy and Boston which helps raise funds for the program).
Regardless of the reasons, this is right.
By hardy
August 26, 2007 6:23 PM | Link to this
Thanks much for the article about the SEGC ministry. This coop is needed and your effort will hasten its opening by calling attention to it and the hassle it has been through——hopefully no more obsticles will be placed in it’s way.
By Apu
August 28, 2007 1:42 PM | Link to this
I am pleased to excahnge your American dollars for beer, cigarettes, lottery tickets, and small packets of imitation sexual stimulants at my humble convenience store. However, please to not make folly of my peoples’ new temple! If you continue, may a thousand camels make dung in your American Corvette sports car with the convertible top open!