Serve Louisville exists to serve the greater Louisville area by helping other ministries do something they couldn’t do on their own. Often this looks like construction on ministry buildings, enabling those ministries to get quality work for less while simultaneously engaging with a wider variety of volunteers.
We are undertaking one of our biggest projects to date! Operation Care is renovating a historic building in downtown Shelbyville (just a short drive from Louisville). This facility will benefit Shelby County and the surrounding community through their large variety of services.
“Operation Care is a Christian ministry striving to nurture a warm and welcoming environment to help those in need, whether physical, spiritual, emotional, or social. With a transitional housing program, a state-registered charitable medical clinic, and The Encore Thrift Shop, we are well-rounded in the resources we provide to those in need.” explains Operation Care’s website.
Executive Director Jennifer Decker came to CrossRoads through a chance meeting. “I was speaking at an event in Louisville, and I observed my husband talking to the same man the entire time I spoke. As it turns out he was a Serve Louisville volunteer, and he thought CrossRoads could help with our building project.”
The organization recently acquired a historic building in downtown Shelbyville in order to provide more shelter space. This four-story building has been mostly vacant for many years, and we are excited to bring it back into use. But it will take a lot of work.
“My husband and I felt like it was a divine appointment that night,” continued Jennifer. “I knew that the money CrossRoads could save us would be the difference between doing the project or not. Without CrossRoads, this expansion would not be possible. By partnering with us, CrossRoads joins Operation Care in our mission to deliver help, hope, and healing to more homeless families in crisis.”
This renovation of this building will offer a wide variety of construction projects, from framing to flooring to painting and much more. The Main Street level will be commercial spaces for the community, while the third and fourth floors will contain apartments and rooms for single women and women with children.
Operation Care’s shelter program offers a wide variety of services in addition to safe and drug-free housing. The program director ensures each resident has access to specific services as needed to move from homelessness to financial planning; pro-bono legal assistance; spiritual and mental health counseling; emotional support; help in meeting educational goals; job training; and tutoring for school and extracurricular, life-enriching experiences for sheltered children.
“The collaboration with CrossRoads Missions,” explained Jennifer, “will enable Operation Care to double our shelter space for providing a safe, nurturing environment for homeless women and children in Shelby County and beyond. This expansion is critical, as our shelters are consistently at capacity. Although our staff tirelessly seeks alternatives solutions for families we cannot shelter, other options are sometimes unavailable.”
This new building will allow the program to expand, providing care to many more women and children. In order to accomplish all of this and get Operation Care set up for success, we need you! Our project managers will organize the projects and teach any skills that are needed as you serve. We need many willing hands to get this building ready to be a safe haven for people in need.
Get Involved
Support Operation Care at their fundraising event on August 25th! This year’s Gala will celebrate God’s grace and our financial partners, whose support empowers Operation Care to provide help, hope, and healing through Jesus Christ. We’ll also celebrate by raising funds to expand our Transitional Housing Program that provides homeless women and children a safe space and a proven path to financial independence.
Come hear guest speaker Willie Robertson from the Duck Dynasty and listen to local bluegrass band Wild and Rare!
With limited seating, you’ll want to visit https://fundraiser.support/FaithLoveandDucks to grab yours
Serve Louisville
VOLUNTEER opportunities on a regular basis
DONATE to support the ministry and help us do more!
FOLLOW our media for more stories like this
SHARE this story and why you love CrossRoads
