Members from one of Mt. View Christ Church's small group Bible Study gather around the Christmas tree they decorated in the community room at Exodus Homes where residents come to use the phone, do laundry and pick up donated food. For the second year, this group has brought the holidays to Exodus Homes by putting up the first Christmas tree and decorating the community room tables and bulletin boards.

Thanks for helping support Exodus Homes!

Terrance Blanding and Tony Garner register to vote with Carolyn Connor of Exodus Missionary Outreach Church during the Greater Hickory Ministerial Alliance Get Out The Vote Rally Saturday at the Brown Penn in Ridgeview. Exodus Missionary Outreach Church provided transportation to the polls for those who wanted to take advantage of the last day for early voting. Terrance Blanding, 22 years old, joins the high number of first time voters in this year's election. The bipartisan effort helped people register to vote, and gave the League of Women Voters comprehensive Voter Guide to those going to the polls as part of the Rally.    



    

The Brown Penn Gym in the Ridgeview neighborhood of Hickory was packed today with a crowd of approximately 400 who turned out for the Exodus Homes Community Outreach event. A primary focus of the event was free HIV testing done via mouth swab with results available during the event, as well as information about how to protect against HIV infection. Rev. Reggie Longcrier, Exodus Homes Executive Director, explained, "The alarming HIV infection rates in the African American community can and must be addressed. We cannot afford to wait on this issue." The statistics on HIV and AIDS in the USA clearly show that all races are affected, but that ethnic minorities account for a disproportionate number of cases in most states. African Americans are particularly severely affected by the virus, and relatively high rates of HIV can be found in virtually every sector of the community. The latest Centers for Disease Control report1 on the US epidemic shows that in 2006, 73% of people diagnosed with AIDS were men. Within the African American population, men represent 64% of AIDS cases. Women comprised 36% of all African Americans diagnosed with AIDS in 2006.4 Black women represented 66% of AIDS diagnoses in women in 2006, though just 12-13% of American women are black.

The HIV testing initiative was a partnership between United Way sister agencies Exodus Homes and ALFA with support from Fairgrove Primary Health staff, and members of Exodus Missionary Outreach Church.. The demand from those who came was so great that they ran out of HIV tests by the end of the event, but were able to refer those turned away to make an appointment for testing with the two health care agencies in the future. Jennifer Hart Dockey, ALFA Executive Director, said "The Exodus Homes' outreach events are very effective in drawing people in for HIV testing, and we appreciate these creative opportunities that help us accomplish our mission." Laura Huffman,
RN with Fairgrove Primary Health was surprised at the number of people who came forward to be tested, "This outreach event was an amazing way to take preventive health care to the community."

Pauline Cooke and Alfred Cooke, long time volunteers for Exodus Homes recently commissioned a portrait of Executive Director Rev. Reggie Longcrier to compliment the United Way agency's office renovation that occurred this year funded by the Beaver Foundation and the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation. The portrait was created by local artist Lindsay Barrick and includes a quote from Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, let us talk this over saith the Lord: No matter how deep the stains of your sins, I can take them out and make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained red as crimson, I can make you white as snow. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land." Pauline Cooke explained their desire to do this, "We love Rev. Longcrier, and admire the tremendous impact Exodus Homes has had on this community. We are very proud to be a part of such a great organization." 

The North Carolina Association of ABC Boards held it's annual conference July 20-22, 2008 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. with the presence of Exodus Homes from Hickory, N.C. adding a unique dimension to the program of events. Incorporated in 1960, the NC Association of ABC Boards represents over 140 county and municipal ABC boards operating throughout North Carolina, working with its members to promote responsible alcohol sales through control, provide the highest level of service, and generate revenue for North Carolina communities. This year's conference included a session featuring innovative partnerships between local  ABC boards and community organizations that prevent underage drinking and support alcohol rehabilitation. Catawba County ABC Board's  partnership with Exodus Homes was held up as a model for grassroots efforts to provide supportive housing for homeless recovering addicts, alcoholics, and formerly incarcerated people returning to the community from treatment centers and prison. Susan Smith, Exodus Homes Assistant Executive Director, represented the United Way agency with a fast paced presentation that left participants wanting to know more about their partnership with Catawba County ABC and how it might be replicated in other areas of the state. Joe Wall, NCAABC Board Executive Director said, "I was amazed to hear about Exodus Homes' effectiveness with homeless recovering alcoholics, and even more impressed with the progressive way that the Catawba County ABC Board has supported their work."       
 
Ms. Smith described how the Catawba County ABC Board has provided funding for the past four years to support the program's transportation service which is crucial to the overall operation of the supportive housing program. She said "Ray Abernathy, General Manager of the Catawba County ABC Board heard about our need and was very helpful in making it possible for us to present a request to the full board. Over the years they have become strong supporters of our program, and have truly helped us survive the steep increase in gas prices during an economic downturn in our area."  Her presentation highlighted the creativity of their  support in how they have directed material donations from the community to the program, funded the addition of a mechanical lift on their 24 ft box truck used in social enterprises of the agency, and donated a late model vehicle in excellent condition.  Clyde Sigmon, a Catawba County ABC Board member and  immediate past president of the NC Association of  ABC Boards was very pleased with the reaction to the Exodus Homes presentation, saying "We know we have made a difference in our community with this partnership, and the Exodus Homes' presentation gave ABC representatives from across the state new ideas to help us collectively accomplish our mission."                 
 
Exodus Homes also had an exhibit table during the conference, and many participants came to pick up additional information or watch the film about the faith based organization that was produced by the Jackson Group Interactive. Many stopped to marvel at the size of Exodus Homes with 94 people in ten locations, it's ability to reduce neighborhood crime, reduce prison recidivism, and redeem public nuisance properties as an additional benefit of providing supportive housing to homeless recovering addicts, alcoholics, and formerly incarcerated people. Randy Isenhour, current chairman of the Catawba County ABC Board observed the impact that Exodus Homes had on the conference and remarked "This clearly demonstrates the importance of local ABC boards and our ability to manage our resources for the greater good in our communities." 
 
For more information about the NC Association of ABC Boards, please contact Joeseph Wall at  JWall@jordanprice.com. For more information about Exodus Homes, contact Susan Smith at susansmith@charter.net

On Sunday evening June 29, 2008 a 30 member youth group from Winkler's Grove Baptist Church in Hickory descended on Exodus Homes' main complex to learn about the faith-based United Way supportive housing program and give it a landscaping make-over. The group saw a film about Exodus Homes, participated in a question and answer session with Assistant Executive Director Susan Smith, and talked with Exodus residents who shared their success in recovering from drug addiction, alcoholism, and incarceration. The youth and their adult leaders then proceeded to weed all of the flower beds in the 14 unit apartment complex at 122 8th Ave. Dr. SW in Hickory, and then decorate each unit's porch with beautiful flowering plants in attractive pots. At the end of the project, the group is seen here celebrating what they learned about Exodus Homes, and their contribution to the program.

The Exodus Homes and Exodus Missionary Outreach Church "We Do Recover" community outreach event drew a packed crowd of 300 people to the Brown Penn Gym in Ridgeview on Saturday. The event included free HIV testing by the Aids Leadership Foothill Alliance (ALFA) plus outreach from the Hickory Police Department DAVID PACT unit, and the Hickory Fire Department. Free clothes, food, groceries, furniture, hair cuts and manicures were given away to those who came for hope and encouragement that recovery from addiction, incarceration or any traumatic life experience is possible. Sgt. Mike Beam of the Hickory Police Department is seen holding Jalil Smith with Amber Jones and Keisha McClem who attended the outreach event.

Members of the Young Women of Distinction, an Exodus Homes United Way youth outreach program, are seen with their founder and director Sylvia Ratliff after performing an African dance at the Juneteenth community celebration in the Brown Penn ball field in Ridgeview on Saturday. Young Women of Distinction currently has 7 adult female mentors working with 12 youth and strives to inspire young women ages 7-17 to be strong and intelligent while respecting themselves and the world around them. Dance is one of many positive activities offered to help them develop healthy self esteem and creative expression. In the group photo Ms. Ratliff is seen down front with the young women from left to right; Emerald Abernethy, Labrecia Jenkins, Tiffany Gray, Amber Abernethy, Akira Jenkins, Adriana Galindo-Tabron, Jayana Linder, LaTia Tucker, and Adia Tabron.

Rev. Reggie Longcrier is seen admist the recovery community crowd that turned out to celebrate Memorial Day at the Exodus Homes main site in Ridgeview. Approximately 250 people took part in the day long festivites that included Exodus Homes residents, program graduates, their families, friends, Exodus church members, and  and 14 inmates from Catawba Correctional Center who came out on community passes with prison ministry volunteers. The day began with a 12 step recovery meeting and open discussion held in the parking lot followed by  games, music, and lots of great food cooked and served by Exodus Homes residents in honor of all those who have served our country in the military.

Fran Syptak, President of the Catawba Valley League of Women Voters is seen handing out free copies of the pocket Constitution to members of the community that turned out for the Last Chance For Early Voting Rally that was held today in Optimist Park in Hickory. Exodus Homes volunteers helped coordinate the rally, which included a cook-out and free transportation to the Highland Recreation Center early voting site.

Richard Armstrong recently donated a two story 2000 sq. ft. cinder block building in Long View that was formerly St. James Masonic Lodge to Exodus Homes, a United Way faith based supportive housing program for homeless recovering addicts, alcoholics, and formerly incarcerated people. Mr. Armstong says he and his wife prayed about what to do with the building, then decided to support Exodus because of their excellent reputation and outstanding work in the community. Exodus Homes is considering several options for use of the building.

Pictured  from left to right are Jerry Ratliff, Exodus Homes Director of Operations; Rev. Reggie Longcrier, Exodus Homes Executive Director; and Richard Armstrong.