When a person or family loses a house and possessions to a fire, knowing where to turn can be heart wrenching and difficult.
But house fire victims in Texas County have for more than a decade had a place to turn: Angels Home Center. Established in 2003, Angels Home Center offers “burn-out” survivors assistance in the form of household goods, furniture, clothing and other necessities – all free of charge. When funds are available, they’re even given cash.
“We run on a wing and a prayer,” founder Betty Adams said. “We just kind of do what we can do.”
This week, Angels Home begins its 11th year with a “grand reopening” event Thursday and Friday at its store on Peace Chapel Road in the Upton section of western Texas County. The nonprofit organization posts no prices on anything in the store, and for a freewill donation all items are available to anybody (including furniture, clothing and household goods).
Adams said that last year Angels Home aided 12 families with a total of 24 children that hailed from communities all over Texas County (including Cabool, Elk Creek, Evening Shade, Houston, Licking, Mountain Grove, Sand Shoals, Success, Summersville and Tyrone).
“All were given monetary help and all the clothes and household items they needed from our center,” Adams said.
In 2012, the charity helped out 18 families that experienced house fires.
In addition to Adams, other Angels Home volunteers include Texas County residents JoAnne Biros, Mary Breedlove, Darcie Manion, Charlotte Mesa and Barbara Roberts. The Piney River Quilt Guild and St. Paul Lutheran Church Quilt Guild provide new quilts to every assisted family.
Angels Home raises funds year-round through raffles, and inmates in the Restorative Justice program at the South Central Correctional Center in Licking recently made and donated a quilt that was raffled off.
At this week’s Angels Home reopening event, the first bag of clothing is free to anyone, with more available for a freewill donation. Adams said the store has “lots of everything” to choose from and that many items will be displayed on the grass in front.
“People wanting to yard-sale shop can find unique items of all kinds, and all they have to do is leave a financial donation,” she said.
Angels Home Center’s store and headquarters on Peace Chapel Road is accessible from Highway M or Highway FF (via Highway 38). The store is open to the public Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through fall (it’s closed in the winter), and is equipped with a handicapped ramp donated by a local construction company.
Adams said Angels Home works under the radar, so to speak, and is always seeking donations of all kinds of items useful to someone who has lost everything.
“Just like people aren’t really aware of Relay for Life until cancer hits their family, people aren’t aware of Angels Home Center until someone they know loses everything in a fire,” she said. “That’s just how it works.”
For more information about the organization, or to arrange to make a donation or receive assistance, call 417-458-3298.
Just like people aren’t really aware of Relay for Life until cancer hits their family, people aren’t aware of Angels Home Center until someone they know loses everything in a fire. That’s just how it works.”
Angels Home Center’s store and headquarters on Peace Chapel Road is accessible from Highway M or Highway FF (via Highway 38). The store is open to the public Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through fall (it’s closed in the winter), and is equipped with a handicapped ramp donated by a local construction company.