The 2009 Exodus Homes Christmas Lights Festival and Food Crawl will feature the unveiling of a second outdoor mural in partnership with Melanie Taylor of A Change of View Murals, and the United Arts Council of Catawba County. At last year's event, the first mural from a montage in the book "The Hill" about the history of the Ridgeview neighborhood was presented, painted on a cinderblock wall at 221 8th Ave. Dr. SW in Hickory, one of two buildings in what used to be called the "Old Embassy Apartments" 

This year's mural on the second building at 225 8th Ave. DR. SW depicts a scene from the history of Exodus Homes when the faith-based supportive housing program was cleaning out the property after acquiring it in 2003 after a foreclosure. When Exodus Homes' residents were on a break from the cleaning, the Rev. Susan Smith, Exodus Homes Assistant Executive Director, saw that Executive Director Rev. Reggie Longcrier had taken the opportunity to teach while they rested. She grabbed her camera to capture the impromptu sermon, and the picture has been a symbol for the program ever since. It was blown up and taken to Anaheim, California for the All America City competition to help Hickory win the award in 2007    Melanie Taylor was eager to come back and do a second mural for Exodus Homes saying, "I've wanted to bring outdoor art to Ridgeview for some time, and the partnership with Exodus Homes is a great fit for this purpose". The United Arts Council of Catawba County will also partner a second time, providing funds for the project.    The festival will kick off with a short program to unveil the mural followed by Mayor Rudy Wright lighting a rooftop nativity scene to signal the start of the event. Fun for the whole family is tied together by participants "crawling" between seven Exodus Homes locations heavily decorated for Christmas on 8th Ave. Dr. SW in Hickory as they sample free food from Olive Garden, Chick Fil A, Texas Roadhouse, Taste Full Beans CoffeeHouse, Biscuitville, Jason's Deli, and Delectable Morsels By Val. Multi-cultural Santas will be strolling around with candy for kids along with performances by the Exodus Missionary Outreach Choir, Church of the Masters Chimes Choir, Unifour Christian Fellowship Praise and Worship Team, The Holy Puppets Ministry, and fire eating juggler Hickory Attorney Bill Morgan. You don't want to miss it!!

Exodus Homes has hired Craig Ivey as the Business Developer for Exodus Works!, funded by a grant from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation to increase job creation in the United Way agency's social enterprise. Craig is a well rounded professional with 16 years experience in the furniture industry who has been working with Exodus Works! for over two years. He will be marketing the services of Exodus Works! including residential and commercial moving, landscaping. cleaning, shuttle services, event set-up/clean-up, and other kinds of general labor.

For more information about Exodus Works!, go to  http://www.exodushomes.com/exodusworks/exodusworks.html or contact Craig Ivey at 828-962-8212 or craigivey67@yahoo.com.

As Exodus Homes began preparing for its sixth annual Christmas Lights Festival and Food Crawl, they discovered that a leaky roof in their warehouse has caused extensive water damage to most of the lights and Christmas decorations used to light up 8th Ave Dr. SW in Ridgeview for an event that has become a community tradition. The warehouse in Hickory is rented and the faith based United Way agency does not have renter's insurance on the warehouse contents, mostly donated furniture. This year's festival is scheduled for December 7, 2009 from 5:30pm - 7:30pm and they are asking the community to help by donating indoor/outdoor white icicle lights, colored lights, inflatable lighted decorations, other Christmas decorations, and extension cords. Rev. Reggie Longcrier said, "This has always been a free event to bless the community and we need the community help make it happen this year."   
 
The Christmas Lights Festival and Food Crawl is a lively street festival which starts when Mayor Rudy Wright lights up a rooftop nativity scene to signal the start of the event. Fun for the whole family is tied together by participants "crawling" between six Exodus Homes locations on 8th Ave. Dr. SW in Hickory sampling free food from Olive Garden, Chick Fil A, Texas Roadhouse, Taste Full Beans CoffeeHouse, Biscuitville, and Delectable Morsels By Val. Multi-cultural Santas will be strolling around with candy for kids along with performances by the Exodus Missionary Outreach Choir, Church of the Masters Chimes Choir, Unifour Christian Fellowship Praise and Worship Team and Puppet Ministry, and other local church ministries. Susan Smith, Exodus Homes assistant executive director is optimistic about this year's festival despite the setback with the damaged decorations, "The Grinch could not steal Christmas, and water damage can't steal our Christmas festival.We'll do the best we can with what we have - that's the Exodus way!"         
 
Donationed items for the Christmas Lights Festival can be brought to the Exodus Homes office at 122 8th Ave. Dr. SW, Hickory NC 28602 or they would be glad to come pick them up. Financial donations for the Christmas Lights Festival can be mailed to P.O. Box 3311 Hickory NC 28603 or given through the website at www.exodushomes.org. For more information, please contact Susan Smith at 828-962-8196 or susansmith@charter.net.      

Exodus Homes celebrated reaching a fund raising goal that many said was impossible. The faith- based United Way agency that provides supportive housing for 77 homeless recovering people returning to the community from treatment centers and prison has struggled to survive during the recession because of high unemployment of their residents. In June, Mitchell Gold of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Inc. made an offer to help leverage support for the non-profit, saying. "Raise $10,000 and we'll match it." The company based in Taylorsville is well known for comfortable styling in furniture and philanthropic endeavors.

Many said it couldn't be done because of the poor economy. high unemployment, and summer is not usually a good time to do non-profit fund raising. However,   Exodus Homes' supporters stepped up with steady gifts large and small during what was called The Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Challenge. As part of the effort, Pennies for the People's Bail-Out asked people to donate pennies which led to Exodus Homes residents busily counting and rolling the coins in large amounts. Even children were busy this summer doing penny drives for the agency. Ann Dickson, Exodus Homes' business manager says, "Every inch of my office was stuffed with penny rolls. They really add up!"

September 19, 2009 was the fund raising deadline with a cook out celebration to invite all those who had donated to witness the match check which would double their gift. In the week before the deadline, Exodus had raised $6,000 and an anonymous donor gave the remaining amount to insure that they would meet their goal.
During the celebration Saturday, Mitchell Gold said that he had been pretty sure he would not have to match the entire $10,000 goal, but he was glad he was wrong. Addressing a large crowd of Exodus Homes residents and supporters he said, "I've never been happier to lose a bet. Nothing replaces hard work and you are some of the hardest working people I know. Our company is glad to make this investment in you and your need to work."

The money raised is being used to purchase tools, equipment, and insurance for Exodus Works!, the social enterprise component of the organization that creates jobs for the residents of Exodus Homes in moving, landscaping, cleaning, and day labor. Rev. Reggie Longcrier, Exodus Homes executive director has a big vision for employment, "We intend to create jobs not only for our residents, but for other hard-to-employ people in the community who are struggling to recover from addiction or incarceration. Mitchell Gold is a visionary in his own right, and we need people like him to walk with us toward our goal."

Hickory Mayor Rudy Wright opened the program during The Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Challenge Cook Out with appreciation for good news in the midst of recent economic gloom saying, "Corporate generosity like this for our struggling non-profit sector is what makes our community great." Exodus residents shouted "Don't give up Mayor!" and "Mitchell - we thank you!"  Susan Smith, Exodus Homes assistant executive director summed it all up for the faith-based organization, "They said it couldn't be done, but there is nothing too hard when we work together"

For more information about Exodus Homes, go to www.exodushomes.org or contact Susan Smith at 828-962-8196 or susansmith@charter.net   For more information about Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Inc. go to www.mgandbw.com

While NC Senator Austin Allran was home from Raleigh recently, he toured Exodus Homes to see how their employment program is surviving the recession.While very familiar with the work of the faith-based United Way agency that provides supportive housing for homeless recovering people returning to the community from treatment centers and prisons, this was his first tour of the program.

He had heard of their job creation enterprise Exodus Works that provides landscaping, moving, cleaning, general labor services, etc., and how it is currently a six month supervised work site of a federal stimulus Work Experience employment project through the Western Piedmont Council of Governments. The senator commended them on the recent addition of a Business Developer for Exodus Works funded for one year by the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundaton. "We need non-profits to seek private funding like this because it is out there."     

Senator Allran met with agency staff and residents, asking questions and hearing the day-to-day struggle of recovering people re-entering the job market in a poor economy. After hearing how even a minor misdemeanor criminal record can be a serious barrier in employment, he said, "In Raleigh we are bombarded with many serious issues, and it helps to hear what people are going through in the community to put it all in perspective."

He was pleased to see how hard the agency has fought to employ their residents who pay for the services they receive in the program once they are working. Rev. Reggie Longcrier, Exodus Homes Executive Director, reminded the senator that the organization must support many residents for lengthy periods of unemployment, "It is not unusual for us to carry people for months while they struggle to find work."

The residents were very excited about the senator's visit, and thanked him for caring enough to come see them. Isaiah Daggett has been in the program a year and works in the Exodus Works warehouse refinishing donated furniture. He said, "It means a lot to us that  you are here. I want to thank you on behalf of all the Exodus Homes residents."  

The day after his visit, Senator Allran hired the Exodus Works landscaping crew for a two day project at his home, and was very pleased with their services. "They did exactly what I wanted, and I would definitely recommend them as a professional landscaping service. From everything I have learned about Exodus, this is probably one of the most wonderful organizations I have ever known."  Susan Smith, Exodus Homes Assistant Executive Director was grateful for his support saying, "We appreciate Senator Allran helping Exodus work. Our people need jobs to learn a new way to live and become productive citizens of the community."    

For more information about Exodus Homes, go to www.exodushomes.org, call 828-962-8196, or e-mail susansmith@charter.net. To contact Senator Allran, go to Austin.Allran@ncleg.net or call 828-322-1410.  

Our residents  and staff have stepped up to take the lemons the economy has given us and turn them into lemonade! Last Thursday - Saturday, we sold 365 dozen Krispy Kreme doughtnuts! Thanks to Roses Store and Julia Rush Fine Crafts for allowing us to set up a table outside and sell to the public. We also sold doughnuts at our weekly warehouse yard sale and weekly car wash. We profit at least $2.75 on each dozen. However, often people will pay more than $5.00, or just give a donation even if they don't want any doughnuts. At the same time, we can share information about our programs, and our need to support homeless recovering addicts, alcohooics, and ex-offenders who are returning to the community from treatment programs or prison. 




We are asking for your help in identfying high traffic areas like Roses Stores parking lot or Union Square where we can set up a table and sell these doughtnuts. Please let us know of any ideas. We also did our first public solicitation outside Wal Mart on Hwy 70 Saturday and did very well. Please let us know of other areas where we could set up a display like the one you see in the picture, share information about our program, and ask for support.
 
Please stop any Saturday at our warehouse, 30 2nd. Ave. SW near Clark Tire from 9-4 to buy used furniture, clothing, and household items at our Yard Sale. Get a great fish sandwich with all the fixins' while you shop!
 
Please come to the church at 1763 HIghland Ave. Saturdays from 9-2 to get your car washed for $10 inside and out! Soul food lunch plates are for sale in the fellowship hall for $7.00.

Nancy Jones and Doris Lewers of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority are seen surrounded by men from Exodus Homes who received new resident Welcome Packets of personal hygiene supplies that were given as part of the organization's Z HOPE Project - Zetas Helping Other People Excel.


Thank you so much for helping support Exodus Homes!

Exodus Homes, a faith-based United Way agency that provides supportive housing for homeless people recovering from drug addiction and alcoholism hosted a special luncheon today to thank thier church partners and inform them of the financial challenges the organization is projecting for 2009. More than 50 representatives of local churches attended the Exodus Homes Church Partner Appreciation Luncheon today at Exodus Missionary Outreach Church here in Hickory. A home cooked soul food lunch was prepared and served by the Exodus Homes' resident Hospitality and Special Events Team who gave generous servings of fried chicken, BBQ ribs, potato salad, collard greens, candied yams, fried fat back and banana pudding to those who came. Mayor Rudy Wright joked, "This food is fantastic, and I'm just glad my doctor is not here to see me eating it!"  The lunch was followed by moving testimonies of recovery from current and former residents who thanked those attending for helping the organization, asking that they continue to do so in the future. Jolyn Armstrong who is on intensive probation said, "I used to hate myself and other people, but now I am growing spiritually and learning a new way to live."  Darryl Prileou was thankful that Exodus Homes was helping him reunite with his infant son who is in the custody of Catawba County Department of Social Services. Holding his son, he said "Years ago I would not have been able to be a father. This is what Exodus Homes is doing for me."     
 
Susan Smith, Exodus Homes Assistant Executive Director, shared how their funding has been significantly decreased from public and private sources, especially by the high unemployment rate of residents who typically fund 62% of the operating budget from program fees they pay once they are employed.  She says the need is even more urgent today, and while revenue is significantly down, expenses will remain the same or increase. Despite the bleak year ahead, she remained hopeful because "We've seen hard times before, and God did not bring us this far to leave us now." In addition to financial support, the church representatives were encouraged to provide material goods, mission projects, and hire Exodus Works for their moving, lawn care, and cleaning services.
 
Rev. Reggie Longcrier, Exodus Homes Executive Director, encouraged churches to remember the "least of these" during the hard times ahead.Telling a story of how a team competiting in the Special Olympics stopped to pick up a fallen team member so they could all cross the finish line together he said. "No one really wins unless we all win."  Thanking all of those who had helped over the years, he chose two for special recognition, Rev. Bob Shoffner of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and Rev. Wallace Johnson who recently retired from First Presbyterian Church of Hickory. Holy Trinity provided space for Exodus Church and Exodus Homes from 1999 - 2002 and was a major factor in their tremendous growth during that period. Rev. Longcrier presented a plaque to Rev. Wallace Johnson for his outstanding contribution to the Exodus Homes program over the past 12 years. Rev. Longcrier shared how Rev. Johnson's willingness to publicly support the ministry in the late 90's during initial community opposition helped leverage other support in their time of need. Standing with Rev. Johnson afterward he said, "Wallace is a pastor's pastor; one that I've looked to over the years for encouragement, councel and support". Rev. Johnson's wife Sallie who served over six years on the Exodus Homes board was present and said, "This luncheon was a very upifting experience, and people need that today. Exodus Homes is a bright light in our community."    
 
For more information about Exodus Homes contact Susan Smith 828-962-8196, susansmith@charter.net or go to www.exodushomes.org 

On Sunday January 18, 2009, Exodus Homes won a Dream Keeper award presented by the Maiden Rosenwald Community Development Corporation during a banquet at the Crowne Plaza celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, and those who are helping realize his dream. Greetings were offered by Hickory Mayor Rudy Wright, Catawba County Board of Commissioners Vice Chair Lynn Lail, and Catawba Valley Community College President Dr. Garrett Hinshaw. A moving video montage of the life of Dr. King played during the event, while speakers inspired the participants to reach higher and do more to improve the community. Exodus Homes, a United Way agency, was honored for it's excellence in providing faith based supportive housing for homeless recovering people in a way that saves lives, improves neighborhoods, and reduces crime. Susan Smith, Exodus Homes Assistant Executive Director, accepted the award on behalf of Rev. Reggie Longcrier who was in a worship service with the young men at Western Youth Correctional Center in Burke County that evening. Although he knew about the award, he felt he must honor the prior commitment to the young men there. In accepting the award, Ms. Smith who has worked with Exodus for 12 years said, "Rev. Longcrier wanted to be here, but he has taught us to always put meeting the needs of our people first, and then God will take care of the rest."

The mission of the Maiden Rosenwald Community Development Corporation "Developing and providing support and resources to the community through education, advocacy, and empowerment." For more information about Exodus Homes, go to www.exodushomes.org or call 828-324-4870.