Janesville homeless shelter offers sense of purpose to homeless men
Podcast Episode
A new homeless shelter in Janesville hopes to provide a sense of purpose and pride by giving them work, even if it's unpaid. The Abundant Grace Drop-in Center is open at 407 W. Van Buren Street. Kyle Geissler reports. You can read more in Monday's Janesville Gazette.
MORE INFORMATION
Abundant Grace Drop-in Center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week at 407 W. Van Buren St., Janesville. For more information, call (608) 931-9285.
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A guest painted this mural on the wall of the sanctuary of the Abundant Grace Church.
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Shelter guests James Devins, left, and Joshua Martin install sheetrock in what will be a day nursery at the Abundant Grace Drop-In Center.
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Guests watch television in the day room at the Abundant Grace Drop-In Center.
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Michael R. Tearman
JANESVILLE — Two years ago, GIFTS Men’s Shelter gave homeless men a warm place to stay overnight.
But come morning, many of them didn’t have anywhere to go. They’d drift to the library or a Laundromat, but some didn’t feel comfortable in those places.
“It’s nice to go to the library, but it just didn’t suit me,” Brad Neitzel said.
For the past two weeks, Neitzel has been coming to the new Abundant Grace Drop-in Center during the day and staying at GIFTS at night.
He’s not just sitting around at the center. He’s helping to create it.
“I like coming here and helping out,” he said. “If you have something for me to do, I’ll do it.”
The shelter at 407 W. Van Buren St. in Janesville welcomes homeless people and gives them a place to call their own, said the Rev. Mike Tearman, a minister of Abundant Grace Church at the same site. It also aims to give them a sense of purpose and pride by giving them work, even if it’s unpaid.
“A lot of times, it’s not money they need,” Tearman said. “It’s a sense of value in themselves.”
Tearman has wanted to start a daytime ministry since GIFTS opened in December 2007, and the pieces recently started falling into place.
Abundant Grace, based in Milton, started a Janesville branch in August. Tearman took his idea for the shelter to the GIFTS boards and other organizations, and donors gave $750 to get the project started.
So far, that’s been enough for the center. It runs on donated items and volunteer work. Even the onsite coordinator is a volunteer.
The shelter will serve men and women, but its main focus is the GIFTS men, Tearman said.
Over the last two weeks, homeless men have helped ready the shelter for guests. It now has a sick room for men who need to sleep and a day room with couches and a television.
Saturday, men worked to prepare a nursery that the church wants to offer to neighborhood parents who need short-term child care, such as when they go to doctor appointments or job interviews. A couple of men watched a movie in the day room, and one man slept on a cot in the sick room.
Tearman and other organizers hope to create a list of projects the men can work on in the community, such as shoveling snow or cleaning homes for elderly or disabled people.
“We’re trying to keep them busy,” Tearman said.
Men at the center Saturday said they enjoyed having something to do.
“It’s nice to get out of the cold,” said Matt, who preferred not to give his last name. “They give people a purpose.”
Tearman and other organizers said they are just showing God’s love to people in need.
“We love these guys,” he said. “We’re compelled by the love of Christ, and we can’t turn (them) away.”
Jul 11, 2011 at 12:44 a.m.
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I have a HUGE concern with this shelter.. I actually came across this article after googling to find a Shelter to donate items to. There appeared to be 2 open. After finding the phone number and staff names listed for this Abundant Grace drop in, I feel a Daycare may NOT be suitable. I hope if someone is thinking they can just babysit for children without proper licensing and -thorough BACKGROUND checks- you may be very much mistaken. I am REALLY concerned here, and I hope the proper authorities are reading this. Douglafud, I think you are right on with your comment. Wake up people, do your homework here!!!!
Feb 7, 2010 at 3:40 p.m.
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Hey douglafud, Are you casting the first stone?
Jan 13, 2010 at 12:32 a.m.
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i agree with you leftofcenter.it is a good story,an a nice thing to do,they have somewhere to go.
Jan 12, 2010 at 10:30 p.m.
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This is a great example of someone trying to do something good for the community (Tearman) and having someone else (Douglafud) piss all over it. It is people like you, Mr Fud, that make the rest of us think twice about getting involved with anything for the greater good. You should just thank Mr Tearman, and anyone else that makes an effort, and keep the rest of your comments to yourself.
Jan 12, 2010 at 2:04 p.m.
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At first glance of this story one would think what an excellent and noble ministry. Upon further review however, one needs to question the leadership of both this ministry and that of it's parent church Abundant Grace Church. Mike Tearman is not a "Reverend"...he has not been to any school that has certified him as such. A look at his history would suggest that it is filled with questionable practices and his "integrity" would be called in to question. I can understand Mr. Tearman's connection to Abundant Grace Church as it's leader behind the pulpit has to ask himself the same questions about character, integrity and accountability...not to man but rather to Christ. When they claim their work is in "his name" they are mocking Christ by their lifestyles. Mr. Tearman and Mr. Frye please read John 8:31 and be set free by the truth which is Jesus Christ.
Jan 12, 2010 at 11:47 a.m.
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This is what community is all about. It is so heart-warming to see this in progress. And to think it didn't take millions like the ice rink....it took a mere $750.00 to start and some donations. I love it when people think outside of the box to help others.
Jan 12, 2010 at 9:37 a.m.
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Way to go Tearman! It's always great to see an expression of compassion, but you not only are reaching out to a troubled area you have put your family right in the middle. I commend you and all the volunteers and hope that the whole Janesville community will get behind this effort. Well done Mike Tearman!!!
Jan 11, 2010 at 7:28 p.m.
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What a wonderful thing to do, Rev. Tearman! Could you put out a list of the things needed and any volunteer hours open? You can email me at karenjis41@yahoo.com if you need any help. I would be more than willing to lend a helping hand. God Bless you and all the people making this a reality!
Jan 11, 2010 at 5:26 p.m.
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Now HERE are people that know how to run things...Perfect!
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With no new jobs in the USA now nor in the forseeable future, people just sustaining themselves will probably become very very common unfortunately.
Jan 11, 2010 at 4:25 p.m.
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The location is the old Knights of Columbus Hall/Boys & Girls Club/12 & 12 Center. It's a tricky property and we in the Fourth Ward are happy it is being put to use, especially in such a socially useful way.
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