Shiloh Home Open House is Saturday
By Bobbi Mlynar
Originally published 02:02 p.m., December 13, 2007
Updated 02:02 p.m., December 13, 2007
A look at how far the Shiloh Home of Hope for Women has come — and how far it needs to go — will be offered at a Christmas house-warming scheduled from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the home, 605 Congress St.
Shiloh, formerly the home and office complex for orthodontist Galen Miller and family, is being purchased from the Millers. The Family Life Services office moved in on July 1, and work is under way to meet city code requirements for the Home of Hope.
The building will provide a residential setting for unwed mothers who need help while they are learning to be parents and to become self-sufficient.
“Our target date is still the first of February, and we’re just going to aim for that until we find out we can’t,” said Family Life Services Director Cindy Rhudy. “We still haven’t started on our sprinkler system. We’re still waiting for the guys to be available; the plans have been approved.”
Much of the work will be done by professionals who will donate or heavily discount their labor during their free time.
“Every day, we get some kind of a surprise blessing,” Rhudy said. “People are always bringing things — baby quilts, baby furniture. Sometimes we get actual furniture. Somebody delivered a lovely couch and set of wingback chairs for us to use in the great room.”
Shiloh Home of Hope also is registered for gifts at Wal-Mart, both in-store and on the web at www.walmart.com.
“It’s not under baby shower or wedding gifts, it’s under wish list,” Rhudy said. “Then you would click on ‘Shiloh’ for first name and ‘Shiloh’ for last name. They can do that from home.”
People who attend the open house will be offered refreshments and a tour of the office and the area where the girls will live.
Rhudy also said that she expects Family Life Services to expand its hours after the first of the year.
The fundraising drive to purchase and prepare the home for full services will continue until Team Shiloh reaches its goal.
The group initially paid a $5,000 deposit on the house, and now has raised the majority of funds needed for the first phase of the agreement with the Millers, Rhudy said.
“We still need $15,000 to start our lease-purchase agreement in February, which I think is very good, considering we had $75,000 to come up with,” she said.
The group will need the full $300,000 purchase price by the end of 2008.
“It’s going to take a miracle probably — maybe several miracles — but that’s what this is all about. We’re not daunted,” Rhudy said. “I’m sure it’s going to happen; it’s just a matter of can we meet our target dates.”
Another fundraiser for Shiloh is planned next month.
Pianist Robyn Meahl, an Emporia High School senior, has volunteered to perform in a concert, “Harmony of Hope,” to benefit the home on Jan. 11, Rhudy said. More information about the concert will be available later.