by Megan Valandingham
On June 16, 2024, an article about the ribbon cutting of the newest Isaiah 117 House in Anderson County, Tennessee. A two-year construction project that is near completion and ready to welcome foster children a place to rest as they find placement. In Anderson County, Tennessee, there are over two hundred and seventy children in foster care and only sixty open foster homes, and the organization has eleven homes in total across Tennessee.
Currently, the Isaiah 117 House organization is preparing for two of their biggest fundraisers of the summer. Andrea Townsend, a program coordinator for the East Tennessee Region for Anderson County Isaiah 117 Homes, according to the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce, shared her thoughts on both the ribbon cutting and the fundraisers, a Lemonade Stand and a Golf Tournament.
"We really hope that July 28, is the magic day, and we'll start taking kids that day as soon as the cutting is done," Townsend said. "I know that it was almost six thousand children that we severed in 2023. So, we're hoping we have a boy's bedroom and a girl's bedroom, and a mini apartment on the other side of the home. Each bedroom will have two twin beds, and then trundle beds and a Murphy bed, so we are equipped to take those large sibling groups as well."
"In the Summer of 2017, a few children from Elizabethton and Johnson City, TN held lemonade stands to raise money for the first Isaiah 117 House in Carter County, TN. $7,000 was raised that summer by kids who knew kids needed a place to stay while they were waiting on foster placement, (2024, para. 1)."
Townsend expressed excitement when she shared her thoughts on the upcoming Lemonade Stands.
"We love our Lemonade Stands, they are our favorite that we do...Our lemonade stands are just a way to get the whole community involved...We love the lemonade stands because any child of any age, any adult of any age, can join in and make an impact...Our biggest goal is awareness," Townsend said. "We're very open to new ideas, but the way it normally goes is if they are hosting a lemonade stand, they will provide, you know, lemonade or baked goods, or whatever that they want to. We give away at the lemonade stand for a donation."
Some of those donations include monetary for the organization, or clothing, like pajamas, hygiene products, and duffle bags for the foster children.
"Every fall, each Isaiah 117 House location takes part in our annual golf tournament. Throughout the year, dozens of Isaiah 117 House golf tournaments are held across the country, sharing our mission with thousands of golfers, (2024, para. 10)."
Again, Townsend expressed excitement when she shared her thoughts on the upcoming Golf Tournament.
"September 7, is our golf tournament. We hold that at Centennial Golf Course in Oak Ridge. That's a really fun way for us to raise awareness because it's not the normal crowd we appeal to usually, you know golfers, but it's so fun," Townsend said. "We usually have between twenty-two to twenty-five golf teams enter and then businesses have to ability to sponsor a hole, and we'll put their business sign up...Anybody in the community can join in and help with that."
This is a passionate organization that encourages fun. Townsend mentioned that at the end of the year, Isaiah 117 House will host a luncheon as a 'thank you,' to the community for all that they do within the organization. Getting involved is one of the best ways to help the Isaiah 117 House.
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