RESTORING
HopeAND
Beauty by Brooke Ezzo | photos courtesy of Shalonda Waggoner
The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts. — Haggai 2:9 (KJV)
T
he stories were all the same. The gratefulness felt for getting away from their abuser, having the shelter to help take care of the survivor and their children, and the support needed to move forward. But for Shalonda Waggoner, a domestic violence survivor, she could hear in these women’s stories that something was missing.
When you leave a shelter, you leave with the clothes on your back and the small amount of belongings you have. Many also leave with the worries of not having a bed for their children to sleep in or a table
to eat dinner on. These were concerns Shalonda heard time and again. That was her inspiration — to bring beauty back into the lives of survivors who had already lost so much and to give them the encouragement and strength to press forward through having a beautifully furnished, decorated, and comfortable home. “A friend of mine who is a designer said she would help me,” Shalonda said. “We put our heads together and decided we were going to do this — create beautiful spaces for survivors of domestic violence as they transition into their new beginning.”
of the Family organization and has been an advocate for many women since then. “I am a survivor, and I know what it is like to be in a place where you only have an air mattress, a blanket, and some sheets. When you are leaving a domestic violence situation, you don’t have time to load up everything you own. You grab what you can,” Shalonda said. “By helping women as they transition into their new home, I am wanting to be a hand up, not a hand out. Bringing beauty back into their lives.” LatterHouse Décor receives both furniture and monetary donations from incredible residents in the area. When they have an influx of inventory, they host a garage sale where people come and purchase items. The money raised goes right back into the ministry to help purchase necessities for the next home project. These items include home décor, kitchen utensils, dishes, furniture, and even clothes. “This is a way for me to help these women and to restore the things they have lost,” Shalonda said. “It gives them a sense of hope, a sense of care, and a sense of love.” Shalonda added, “It’s really important to know what is going on in your community. When you see people advocating for others, there are ways for you to be a part of it as well. You could donate your time, your talent, or your treasures.”
Like most things that are meant to be, LatterHouse Décor ministry was started and grew quickly. In 2016, Shalonda partnered with the Denton County Friends photo above is Shalonda Waggoner
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. — Matthew 6:21 (KJV) To learn more about LatterHouse Décor, visit www.LatterHouseDecor.org. www.CastleHillsMagazine.com
SEPTEMBER 2020 | LIFE IN CASTLE HILL | 25
