Take the Next Step gets matching pledge for drop-in center renovations

Take the Next Step is in the middle of renovating its Monroe drop-in center, aided by a matching pledge, however, the nonprofit is still in need of more funding and skilled volunteers to speed up the construction process.

"Our drop-in center is just two very old houses that were shoved together. I think they were built in 1927,GÇ¥ said Sarah Lunstrom, TTNS community outreach coordinator. "It would be awesome if we could go and just start all over.GÇ¥

The faith-based organization, which provides resources to the Sky Valley's homeless and low-income residents, has six staffers working out of its drop-in center. The Monroe Covenant Church allows TTNS to use the structure at no cost and covers utilities.

TTNS is working to create more office spaces and private counseling areas within its current footprint at 202 S. Sams St. Lunstrom said the organization believes being able to offer more privacy to its clients for counseling will encourage more to seek out services.

The nonprofit anticipates 8,000 people will come through its doors by the end of the year, which is why it is also addressing issues surrounding its one bathroom facility.

"When you're working with the homeless community, that bathroom is always busy,GÇ¥ Lunstrom said.

Demolition work has been done to provide an ADA-accessible door for a second bathroom, but work is going slower than anticipated, Lunstrom said.

"We've gutted our original bathroom,GÇ¥ she said, adding the church is making its facilities available to the nonprofit in the interim. "We're trying to be strategic about the way we position the sink and the toilet.GÇ¥

TTNS is still attempting to raise another $4,000 in donations for the renovation, and last month found out a longtime volunteer would be matching donations.

"We have a very generous volunteer and donor who offered to donate up to $6,000 for every we dollar we get as a match,GÇ¥ Lunstrom said.

What the nonprofit is really lacking are skilled volunteers with a background in construction to speed up the renovation process. Lunstrom said it's important that, when people hear renovations are taking place, the work is not cosmetic but necessary for meeting its capacity and service needs.

"The work we're doing and the renovations we're doing are really going to help us better serve the community and our neighbors in need,GÇ¥ she said.

For those wanting to volunteer labor or funding to assist with the renovation, contact Lunstrom at sarah@ttns.org or go to www.ttns.org.