Mayo Provides Update On A Hand UP Ministry
By REBECCA HAZEN
News Editor
A Hand UP Ministry Director Rex Mayo thanked the community for the support given for the opening of the Hope House and the on-site Hope House Café.
“A little over five years ago, myself and some others in the community got together, trying to come up with a way to help individuals who get released from jail, and help them transition back into the community and not be just another statistic,” Mayo said during the weekly county update on Jan. 20.
A Hand UP Ministry now has both a men and women’s ministry, and the new Hope House Café.
“A beautiful thing happened this past year. We were able to purchase the former nursing home building and put together our women’s center. We call it the Hope House. We were looking for a way to be able to generate some income and be able to put our women in a Christian environment and teach them how to work. Our goal is to take women at the Hope House and be able to put the support around them,” Mayo said.
The Hope House Café is open from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, and is located at 6246 GA-136. Mayo encouraged everyone to come.
“We would love for you to come and be able to connect with us, because we are trying to better our community by helping our citizens,” Mayo said. “It is the Dade community’s building. Over 12 churches and other community people either gave money, time, or materials. We thank all of you. Thank you for giving us an opportunity to be able to do this.”
Also during the county update, Director and Soil Conservationist Stephen Bontekoe with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service shared information about a Dade County Environmental Protection Division grant for septic repair and agriculture implementations.
“It’s a great way to take care of a need you have on your property or to enhance your property, or for dealing with your squishy front yard that has a septic problem,” Bontekoe said.
Matt Heath with Limestone Valley is the project manager of the grant. Heath can be reached at (706) 514-6366 or admin@limestonevalley.org.
Commissioner Robert Goff thanked the road department for their work in keeping the roads clean during the snowstorm last week.
“If you hold up two hands, you’ve got too many fingers for the number of people on the road crew right now. They have been busy, and they’ve worked hard,” Goff said.
Goff also informed citizens that the general assembly is currently working on the Georgia state budget. To follow their progress, visit legis.ga.gov.
The Dade County Superior Court Clerk’s office is taking applications for a full-time position. Applicant must have a high school diploma or equivalent plus two years of business office experience. An application can be picked up at the Dade County Superior Court Clerk’s office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
There are many upcoming events in the county. The Friends of Cloudland Canyon general meeting will be Thursday, Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. Movie night for 4-H is Friday, Jan. 28, at 6 p.m. The Dade County Sheriff’s Office ninth annual fundraiser will be held on Saturday, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. The HUB (group of churches and citizens that assist during severe weather events) Meet and Greet event will be Saturday, Feb. 5 at 9 a.m.
Dade County has seen 209 cases in the past two weeks, for a total of 2,241 COVID-19 cases. The number of cases can be found at dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-daily-status-report.
The weekly county update is broadcasted on Facebook and YouTube on Thursdays at 3 p.m.