By Dawn Burleigh

The Orange Leader

A place to call home. A home to give women a second chance.

Naomi and Ruth Rescue Transitional Center is currently being remodeled to house to house seven women to assist them to re enter the mainstream of the community.

“This endeavor is to help increase the quality of life for women,” Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ Pastor Tom Gillam III said. “Looking at the climate of the country, there are scores of facilities for men to get a fourth, fifth, sixth or tenth chance. It is difficult for women to get a second chance let alone a fourth or fifth chance at life.”

The center, designed to feel like a home to help the women have a since of pride in themselves, will teach women how to dress for an interview, how to interview and offer a financial program to help the women learn how to balance a bank account.

“It is a spiritual program,” President of Naomi and Ruth Rescue Transitional Center Sherrell Gillam Simmons said. “We will also show how to become involved in community service so they will know how to give back to the community.”

The goal for the home is for it to operate as a community home, according to Simmons.

Naomi and Ruth will provide food, shelter, personal and spiritual development, vocational development, substance abuse prevention, community service, and independent living preparation for seven women at any given time on a continuous basis, according to a press release concerning the transitional center.

The facility will allow women to stay a minimum of six months.

“This is not a quick fix,” Simmons said. “We want to cultivate and motivate the women and make sure they get everything they need to be self sufficient so they can say ‘I did this to change my life.’”

The center does not have an official open date but hopes to open its doors in the middle of August this year.

While plans are continuing to move forward, the home is still seeking donations such as twin beds, dressers, kitchen cabinets, plumbing work and some electrical work.

A fundraising event is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 15 at Compro Event Center located at 4155 West Cardinal Drive in Beaumont. Dr. Cherry Gooden will be the guest speaker.

Gooden is a former associate professor and chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Texas Southern University. Gooden is a graduate of Texas Southern University. She has a Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education at Texas Southern University. She earned her Doctorate of Education Degree in Educational Leadership and Cultural Studies at the University of Houston.

Along with the Prayer Breakfast, the event will also have a silent auction, a fashion show and more. Tickets to the event are $25 each. To purchase tickets, contact Sherrell Simmons at 832-496-8324 or email at sgsimmons.nrrtc@gmail.com

“Everyday I see women walking down the street in dire need of help,” Pastor Tom Gillam III said as he pointed to the street in front of the church. “We want to be able to offer a place.”

“We want it to be a place they can call home and be at peace,” Sherrell Gillam Simmons said.