The Cookeville Rescue Mission getting a facelift.
Executive Director Will Roberts said the mission finds itself constantly in some stage of growth. Roberts said the mission is currently building a sidewalk, storage unit and moving some HVAC equipment.
“We’ve been here for many, many years and as they years have gone by, we’ve felt the need and the desire, of course, to get bigger so we can house more people,” Roberts said. “So, we’re always on the move as far as expansion goes.”
Roberts said the road expansion in front of their facility took up some of their parking lot and driveway which prompted the need for a new sidewalk.
Roberts said crews are pouring a slab for the construction of a storage unit for mowers, rakes and other landscaping equipment. Roberts said they are also moving some HVAC equipment.
“This just means that we’re going to be able to serve a whole lot more people,” Roberts said. “We have an influx of folks, especially in the dead of winter and the really hot months of the summer that come in and we’re just going to be able to serve a whole bunch more people.”
Roberts said the mission serves 180 meals every day and houses 50-80 people on a regular basis. The next project Roberts said is to create another 150 beds in one of their new buildings.
“The homelessness issue is at a peak,” Roberts said. “We’ve never seen it as prevalent as it is now. So, we’re just trying our best to make housing and temporary space for the folks that need that.”
