Faith's House, Inc.
By: Annalou Wren
Founder Valerie Daniel
The founder of Faith's House, Inc., Valerie Daniel, is an energetic, caring lady, who lived as a single mom for nine years. Because she was fortunate enough to live with her single Mother, who taught her a trade in the landscape business, the vision of a home for single moms with nowhere else to turn, started to grow.
"I believe that's how people change the world; by learning from our own experiences and then doing something with the growth that comes from it."
Faith's House Mission Statement says, "the home will provide a safe nurturing and spiritual environment empowering women to create better lives for themselves and their families." Valerie's hope is to have a home large enough to fit five mothers with children all living together. She envisions everyone sharing household chores and childcare, while some go out to work or school. There would be meetings and professionals volunteering time to help the moms discover all their possibilities. It might be as simple as directions to Angel's House for free clothes, or learning how to apply for a job, get into college or steps to take their GED.
"I knew I wanted to call it Faith's House, when we had our daughter (after many miscarriages), and knew we had to call her, Faith, our answer for trusting all those years."
As with all dreams, it takes a lot of hard work to get them started, and Valerie is giving it all she's got. There is a monthly Single Mom Networking Meeting at the Cumming Branch Library where they bounce information back and forth, discuss direction and goals, raffle off restaurant or grocery gift cards and everyone enjoys a great time of fellowship and fun.
"Whenever it seems too overwhelming, I feel God continues to burden my heart, so I'm still doing whatever I can to make it happen", says Valerie. This means volunteering at Jesse's House for young girls, The Bald Ridge Lodge for troubled boys, The Drake House for adolescent girls in trouble and working with the Girl Scouts.
Valerie hopes to see her circle of influence grow through meetings, the impressive website faithshouseinc.org, yard sales and selling homemade beef jerky, just to name a few. She would like to have a $10 a month support group and see more company sponsorships, like STAPLES, who donates their copying and CICI'S PIZZA on Ronald Reagan, which delivers free pizza to their meetings. If anyone can make this dream come true, Valerie can and will. For more information or to volunteer, feel free to email Valerie at faithshouse01@bellsouth.net.
