The Community Services Center is the realization of a dream to serve families caring for their special needs child at home. Through the Center, FHC provides 48-Hour Respite Care weekends and Supported Community Living programming. The Center consists of a large multi-purpose room, kitchen, dining room, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a quite room, and the Gaffney Family television room. The Center also has a large fenced-in back yard with swings and playground equipment.

On Respite Weekends, which are twice a month, families bring their special needs child on Friday evening to enjoy an entire weekend with other children and special activities. Some families describe the Respite Weekends as a “super slumber party” or “mini-camp” and many of the children wish Sunday evening didn’t arrive so quickly. The old saying “time flies when you’re having fun” certainly applies to the Respite Weekends at Faith, Hope & Charity.

During the week, the Community Service Center is used for Respite as well as Supported Community Living. Each child in the Community Service program will spend time each month working on skills identified in their Individual Learning Plan. While some children focus on academic learning, others work on social skills like how to check out a book at the library or order off the menu at a restaurant.

The Center is also used by FHC staff for in-service trainings and meetings through out the year. The 1,000 square foot multi-purpose room can be divided with a folding wall to host two activities simultaneously. The MPR is also used for monthly board meetings and special events like Family Day.

Funding for the Community Services Center from the Federal Government is minimal. The tax-supported dollars for the programs cover the cost for direct services and very little else. A fund drive in 2002 generated $400,000 in private donations and grants to pay for the purchase and remodeling of the Center. Furnishings for the building were also donated. Faith, Hope & Charity is currently building its endowment to secure the future of these services despite shrinking federal reimbursement dollars.

Faith, Hope & Charity has helped Teegin become the girl she is today. Thanks for all the hard work you have done for her and for us.

~ Rodney, father of Teegin