New Hope Women's Shelter expansion on track

  SOLON – A Project Planning Meeting was held recently at the New Hope Church in Solon with several of the contractors that will be instrumental in building the facility that will house the new Women’s Shelter.  “It was a good meeting where we got a lot accomplished,” Pastor Tim Hunt said. “The paperwork is all done and the light is green for us to move ahead and get this project accomplished.”

  At the meeting were (seated, left to right), Jeff Lloyd of Merle L Lloyd & Sons of Anson who will do the earthwork; Mike Thebarge,  Shelter board member; Randy Goodwin of Goodwin Builders Inc. in Rangeley, the Project Coordinator; Chuck Gibson, master plumber of Solon; and Keith Ewing, an engineer with Plymouth Engineering Inc. in Plymouth.  Standing (from left) Tristan Hotham, Larry Hotham, and Dan Ellis of Hotham Concrete of Winslow; Pastor Tim Hunt, and Stan Prior, builder-contractor and site manager.  Also present but not pictured was Rebecca Philpot, Director of the Shelter.

  Jeff Lloyd will begin the earthwork for the building in about two weeks.  The new shelter, a 112- by 45-foot facility, will be able to house up to 40 homeless women.  Some of these men are donating their time and some are donating equipment to this important project.  Others are helping us get materials at wholesale cost.  “These men have a lot of expertise in their fields, and we are excited to have them on board with us,” Pastor Hunt added.

  This project will cost upwards of $200,000 and about one-sixth of it has been raised so far.  The New Hope Shelter is in the middle of a fundraising endeavor to raise the money needed to complete the project.  “The work they are doing there at the shelter is amazing, and I'm excited to help them build a new facility so they can expand the help they are giving to these very needy women and children – at no cost to the taxpayer!” said Goodwin.

  Another contractor announced recently that an anonymous donor has pledged a matching grant of $1,000 toward the construction cost. The money could be used to pay for the panels and rebar in the new building.

  Over 200 women, as well as many children have come to the New Hope shelter for help and housing since it opened on Jan. 28, 2010.  For more information, visit their website: http://www.newhopeshelter.com.