March - Harvest House Happenings

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Expansion Project Photos

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 NEW HOPE EDUCATION CENTER EXPANSION - MOVING AHEAD!

It has been in the plans for a while.  You may have heard talk about Harvest House wanting to expand and make the New Hope Education Center larger.  Here is a brief summary of monthly highlights:   Click here to see an overview of the planned expansion of New Hope Education Center. 

  • January 2012:   The City of Buffalo Planning Board unanimously approved the plans.  That same week, some work began at the site to take down old, interior walls to make way for the new classrooms and shops.  View more photos from the gallery posted on the right.

  • February 2012
Some exterior work began to demolish the old loading dock, which is not needed for the operation of the New Hope Education Center.    Three more photos are available via this link  Loading Dock Demo
A contract has been signed with Silvestri architects for the final plans for construction.
 
We are proud to announce that Bliss Construction has been chosen as the general contractor to build and oversee the expansion of the New Hope Education Center.   We are looking forward to working with Paul, Mike, Peter and the rest of the crew.  We thank God for sending us such a generous and capable company.   The newly expanded education center is expected to open on September 4, 2012.

  • March 2012
The project moves forward with the continued preparation of the warehouse ... that is, getting it empty and ready for the new classrooms.  Here is a photo of the site and more activity can be seen by clicking on this link ... more photos
  

Silvestri Architects have submitted an artist's rendering of the New Hope Expansion.


  • April 2012 -- Work is beginning to prepare the surface of the floor in the warehouse.  The warehouse is nearly empty and the contractor is beginning to brick-up openings:  garage doors, windows, etc.   Five storage trailers have been filled with furniture and equipment that will be used in the new school.
      

The photos above show the old garage door being permanently bricked-up as work continues.   The photo on the right shows the inside of the warehouse .... cleaned out!!  If you ever saw it with the thousands of items in it, this would be a surprise.   Where did it all go?   The items we are using in the expanded school went in to five, 40 foot storage containers;  the rest was sold, donated to non-profits or given to the Nicaragua Mission.   We never thought we would see this day!

Watch for more updates here as the project hits more milestones.   More financial support is needed and fundraising activities are continuing in 2012.  On March 20th, we were advised that we will not receive a grant from the Junior League Showhouse Funds (we were one of two finalists) .... so please keep Harvest House in your prayers for more opportunities from other foundations and supporters.

Due to the generosity of several foundations, we are more than half way to our goal!  We are grateful for the financial support and the confidence expressed by the following sponsors:   the John R. Oishei Foundation;  the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo;  the Patrick P. Lee Foundation;  the Robert J. Stransky Foundation; Margaret L. Wendt Foundation, Julia M. Cullen Foundation and M&T Foundation.  A donation towards this project has also been received from Delaware North.  Of course the project's success is contingent on Harvest House being able to raise the remaining funds, but we do not feel God would get us this far if it wasn't His will. 

Project Scope:   The New Hope Education Center is to be enlarged from 5,000 square feet to 17,000 square feet.  By renovating the center's warehouse, New Hope will increase the classroom capacity from 240 students to more than 800 students.  The Baby and Children's Ministry, which sees more and more children each year, has outgrown its facilities on Seneca Street,  and will be moved to the larger space currently occupied by the education center.  Not only will its new location give the clients a more comfortable experience and increase the rack and storage space for donations, it will also make it easier for families to take advantage of the free medical services at Good Neighbors Health Care and the education services at New Hope Education Center.  The education center will also have offices for ancillary services that may be of service to the Baby and Children's Ministry clients and space for parenting classes.  Classroom space will also be available to Good Neighbors Health Care to hold classes.  The possibilities are endless and exciting!

History:   On May 7, 2007, New Hope Education Center, a facility for students 21 years and older, opened with one GED class of six students and was open 3 hours a day. Today, just 3 1/2 years later, the education center is open five days a week and has classes mornings, afternoons and evenings.   Courses offered are chosen carefully with priority given to those that ultimately lead to jobs.  In New Hope's short history, 168 students have received a Licensed Practical Nursing, Certified Nursing Assistant, or Personal Care Aid degree or certificate.  The Medical Office Assistant  class has graduated 56 students, 63% of the pre-collegiate students have enrolled in college and 20 students have received their GED.

Please keep this project in your prayers as Harvest House seeks the remaining funding, chooses a contractor and signs up more education providers. 

Let us not grow weary of doing good; if we do not relax our efforts,

in due time we shall reap our harvest. Galatians 6:9