3 minute read
Nonprofit Spotlight
from NCM Jan/Feb 2023
Run for Angels
Written by CAROLINE NICHOLSON | Photos courtesy of ANGEL’S HOUSE
This year’s Run For Angels is set for Feb. 4 in downtown Newnan.
It can be hard to imagine that horrible things happen in your own backyard, but there are young people in Coweta County who suffer from nightmarish living situations.
The Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) often intervenes in these instances, taking children out of damaging home environments and working to rehome them. Ideally, these children are placed in the custody of other family members, but for some there is no family to go to. When that happens, DFCS must find another suitable place for these children to stay.
In late 2000, a lack of housing options in these cases forced children to stay overnight at the DFCS office. Following this crisis, DFCS called on the community to help create a more permanent solution, so Angel’s House was born.
Construction on the children’s home began in 2001, and on June 21, 2004, the doors of
Angel’s House were flung wide open, like arms welcoming children in need.
In the beginning, Angel’s House served boys and girls, but they’ve since shifted to house just girls in 6th to 12th grades.
Angel’s House works to create a safe, loving home environment for the young girls staying there, according to Stephanie Searcy, president of the Angel’s House Board of Directors. In order to accomplish that, they use a houseparent system. Currently, two pairs of houseparents live with the girls on a rotating biweekly schedule.
Houseparents see to the needs of the girls, help with homework, make dinner, and perform all the other mundane things that are so easily taken for granted in any household. Enrolled in Coweta County schools, the girls are provided all school supplies and encouraged to succeed, according to Searcy.
“Some girls have never slept in a bed before they came to Angel’s House,” says Searcy. “With
– Rebecca Whitley
Angel’s House opened its doors to children in June 2004.
community donations, anything the girls could ever need is provided for them. Often for the first time in their lives, they are safe and cared for with a community supporting them.”
For these girls, the support extends much further than just their time at Angel’s House. As long as they are pursuing a college degree, residents don’t age out of the system until their 21st birthday. That means they have help not only when applying for colleges but throughout their college careers.
Searcy speaks proudly of the girls who have gone off to college, mentioning three freshmen who are studying now at Berry College, Mercer University and Gordon State College. Through Angel’s House, these girls were given everything needed to furnish and decorate their dorm rooms. In addition, they are able to return to their family at Angel’s House during college breaks.
All funding for Angel’s House comes directly from the community via donations and fundraisers. Each year, Angel’s House holds Run for Angels, its biggest fundraiser, to help raise money to support their day-to-day operations. The annual Run for Angels provides the bulk of the organization’s funds.
The 21st Annual Run for Angels is set for Feb. 4. Runners of any ability have the option of participating in a 5K, 10K, or a one-mile fun run.
There are other ways to support the young girls. Angel’s House keeps an updated Amazon wish list that includes not only fun stuff the girls want but practical things that the house needs in order to function. In addition, there are ample opportunities to volunteer.
Since opening, Angel’s House has provided care to 274 children over 43,171 days with 62% of the residents coming from Coweta.
Rebecca Whitley, a former resident, is thankful for her time at Angel’s House.
“It’s been 11 years since I was placed at Angel’s House, but not a day goes by that I don’t thank God for the time I spent there,” she says. “I owe much of who and where I am to Angel’s House and the love, guidance and support they showed me.” NCM
