SALISBURY – A large crowd of volunteers, donors, staff and clients turned out this morning to break ground on Rowan Helping Ministries’ ambitious expansion on North Long Street.
With $6 million pledged, RHM needs roughly $500,000 more to pay for a new building, renovations to the existing facility across the street and the rehabilitation of three houses that will serve as transitional housing units.
“I have never seen such a response to a capital campaign,” said Stephen Drinkard, chairman of the RHM board.
Once construction begins this fall, organizers hope to be in the new building within 18 months.
The current facility was designed to shelter 40 men, but it now shelters anywhere from 55 to 75 men, women and children each night.
“We are using every available space to meet current sheltering needs,” said Kyna Foster, executive director of Rowan Helping Ministries.
The soup kitchen holds 60 guests but serves as many as 180 in one hour each day.
“The new facility will allow us to better meet the needs of our community,” she said.
The new shelter will accommodate 60 men, 40 women and four families, and the kitchen will seat 126 guests.
Read more in Thursday’s Post.s