Jamestown’s Community House has launched a Refresh and Refuel Program helping provide for people without consistent access to food and clean water.
The program offers people in need hot showers and meals once a week. Community House Executive Director Rachelle Kerr said many people in Fentress County lack access to running water, electricity, or air conditioning. Kerr said some people are forced to live in small sheds or outbuildings.
“There is no emergent housing, there is nothing like that,” Kerr said. “In me helping navagate with the other folks, I’m finding that most of the surrounding counties, when I’ve reached out to them to inquire for others, they’re full. So the need is definitely pressing.”
The outreach is being held Thursdays at First Baptist Church in Jamestown. Kerr said free professional haircuts are available every first Thursday of the month.
Kerr said her long vision for the program includes emergent and longer term housing, and mechanisms to teach self sustainability. In the short term, Kerr hopes people feel seen and loved.
“It’s really amazing when people come in to the Refresh and Refuel Outreach and they’re greeted by loving, kind volunteers who take the time to listen, who have resources and supplies and things,” Kerr said. “They’re able to come into a nice, cool air conditioned environment. We have homemade lunch. They’re able to sit down, fellowship, eat, and take a shower.”
Kerr said other churches around Jamestown have sent volunteers and donations to the outreach /
“We had one church donate huge totes to the organization,” Kerr said. “And we have another church supplying a huge amount of volunteers. Other churches and individuals have been supplying food.”
Kerr said there have been no hiccups so far, and she is thankful First Baptist has welcomed the Refresh and Refuel Outreach.
Kerr said the outreach is in it’s soft launch stage, but it’s grand opening will be celebrated at an upcoming a family resource fair. Kerr said she hopes to soon partner with larger agencies and expand the impact of the Refresh and Refuel Outreach.
