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Jessica Nelms

A summer opening is planned for the Our Daily Rest Homeless Shelter in Seneca. Funding to help operate the first-of-its-kind facility in Oconee County will be, in part, made possible by a July 25 benefit concert in Walhalla.

SENECA — With the opening of Our Daily Rest Homeless Shelter pending in July, a benefit concert has been organized to help fund Oconee County's first homeless shelter.

To raise funds for the operation, Tugalo Holler, a locally renowned bluegrass and gospel group will perform in concert at 7 p.m., July 25, in the auditorium of Walhalla High School. Admission will be $5 for adults, $3 for children and under 6 will be admitted free. Additionally a love offering will be accepted during the intermission.

The Board of Directors of Our Daily Rest and the Path of Hope Campaign Committee, in conjunction with Trehel Corporation and Thrift Brothers Construction Inc., are planning a summer opening of the shelter, located at the corner of Main and Jordan Streets in Seneca.

With the closest shelters currently located in Greenville and Anderson, Our Daily Rest Homeless Shelter will provide local rehabilitative services to the area's growing population of men, and women with children, who are experiencing temporary homelessness.

"Our Daily Rest Homeless Shelter will provide a component that has been missing in Oconee County to care for our community members," said John M. Powell, chairman of the Path of Hope Campaign to build Our Daily Rest. "It's very encouraging to have such unanimous support from the community especially during these difficult economic times. People are seeing the need for Our Daily Rest and making it a top priority by pledging the funds needed to see that it happens."

"This is something we've desperately needed, but it's not always easy for people to understand," said Dr. C. Von Reynolds, Senior Pastor, Seneca Baptist Church. "Because people who are experiencing homelessness may not want others to know, they may make themselves invisible. People may not see someone as a stereotypical ‘homeless person’ so they are unaware there's a problem. We're working to help people see beyond the stereotype and change that perception."

"Our Daily Rest was conceived to be able to help a full spectrum of individuals in our area,” commented Daniel Wroblewski, president of the Our Daily Rest Board of Directors. "We'll be able to help families, individual men, women and children with a care plan to help them get back on their feet. We will also be able to provide emergency shelter for men and women with children when needed."

With the growing number of mortgage foreclosures, plant closings and job losses in Oconee, the population in need of Our Daily Rest services is estimated to be increasing. In addition to providing shelter for Oconee County homeless persons, Our Daily Rest is creating a network within the community and county social agencies. In partnership with this network, the shelter will provide supportive services such as job training, assistance finding transitional and affordable housing and counseling so that its residents may become more self-sufficient.

Our Daily Rest Homeless Shelter is being built at an estimated build cost of $1.1 million. It will house up to 20 men and as many as 10 women with children plus an additional 30 individuals in emergency shelter areas at any one time.

The Path of Hope Campaign is dedicated to raising funds to pay for construction and provide for ongoing programs and services.

Led by Powell as chairman and with Sam Thrift serving as honorary chairman, the Path of Hope Campaign will continue to raise necessary funds for completion of the facility and to be able to offer needed programs and services.