It’s official—children who are in need of a safe and comfortable place to stay while waiting for foster families of their own, now have that in the hope house, after Joy Closet officials cut the ribbon Friday morning.
The Joy Closet is a local non-profit that is dedicated to helping provide foster and kinship families in need across the region with needs-based items such as clothing, shoes and more. But that’s not all they do, with numerous initiatives in place now that help the child after they leave the foster care system, and now, before they enter it.
The Hope House will act as a safe haven for children who are removed from their homes by the Department of Community Based Services, but don’t yet have foster families ready to take them in. Joy Closet Executive Director Heather Gray says this house, which will be able to house several children at a time and give them their own space with comfortable furniture and items, wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the community.
It’s been at least two years in the making, but the Joy Closet just had its fourth anniversary in this community, and Gray says this house feels like a celebration of that.
Several big donations and work from Summertown Metals, once known as Legacy Metals, and Kentucky Lumber made the Hope House a reality. Derrek Guyer with Kentucky Lumber says there was never a hesitation from his team when it came to supporting this cause.
With plenty of space for children of all ages, the Hope House will surely act as a second, if temporary, home for children who need a place that’s full of love in this community for years to come.
