Ya d k i n • Va l l e y
PEOPLE
JANA ELLIOTT For such a time as this… Esther 4:14
WRITER Cindy Martin
Jana Elliott, newly appointed director of Mount Airy’s Homeless Shelter, the Shepherd’s House, is passionate about her life’s work. As a teenager, she and her mother, a school bus driver, spent the summer camping near the Cherokee region of North Carolina. It was there Jana encountered impoverished families and folks in need. Their dire situations touched her heart and the seed was planted. She wanted to find a way to make their lives better. A Rural Hall girl, Jana attended North Forsyth Senior High and graduated cum laude from Salem College with a bachelor’s degree in communication with an emphasis in public relations. Always, in the back of her mind, were the 74
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families she’d met and one young man named Gary, who became her pen pal. Unfortunately, Gary made some bad choices and was sentenced to prison, and after a while, they lost touch. But Jana couldn’t stop wondering what had become of the other little children and their families. Fast forward a few years and Jana’s own teenage daughter comes bursting into the house, insisting Jana and her husband John adopt. She had become friends with someone who had been adopted by a loving family and had been saved from an abusive father. Although Jana and her husband were moved by their daughter’s plea, they weren’t sure they were ready for adoption. “I believe there are no accidents,” Jana said, “just opportunities.” While working as an account executive at Clear Channel Radio, she discovered a summer camp run by a friend that focused on foster/adoptive families and at-risk children. It seemed meant to be. Over the years, in addition to their blended family of four (two daughters and two sons), Jana and John have fostered more than 20 children. Jana became executive director of Heroes Helping Heroes, where she was responsible for mentoring programs and the Seeds of Hope summer camp. As executive director, Jana also led adult-based programs for children’s parents and caregivers. Her goal was to break the generational patterns of abuse, neglect, and dependency. “Six years into it, I ran into children who were living at Shepherd’s House,” she told me. Perhaps this was a glimpse of what God had in store for her future? Along the way, Jana became a realtor and worked for Century 21 Smith-Love Realty in King. “I believe everything that’s happened in my life has happened to prepare me for the next step,” she proffered. “We should approach life fearlessly and put our faith in God (or the higher power in your life) and trust His judgment,” she continued. “My life is a testimony to that. God will never let me down.”
The current Shepherd’s House Foundation of Surry is still in operation. Location is 227 Rockford Street P.O.Box 1722, Mount Airy. 27030. Office: 336-786-1420, Fax: 336-786-6540. www.shepherdshousema.org NOTE: The new facility is still under construction but the projected date of opening is early October
