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NEWS & PRESS RELEASES
December 08, 2008
Children’s Shelter’s Open House brings warm smiles and much needed donations
The Appalachian Children’s Emergency Shelter (ACES) opened its doors to the public for the first time Saturday, December 6th, and hundreds of Pickens County residents and supporters toured the newly completed safe haven.
ACES has been built, furnished and decorated with private donations and is debt free. The generous contributions from Saturday’s festive event will jump start the hiring of staff in order to prepare for licensure and opening early next year.
Chief Superior Court Judger Brenda Weaver sounded the initial call for the need for the children’s shelter, and Saturday complimented and thanked the people of Pickens County for responding so generously to bring the hope to reality.
Board President Larry Butler said, “The community’s generosity has been striking. Every room shows the love, commitment and support that hundreds of people have given to make this shelter a truly nurturing home.”
A children’s shelter is needed now more than ever. The faltering economy has further lessened the availability of foster care, while the number of children in crisis has increased.
Judge Weaver, Superior Court Judge Henry Doss, and Juvenile Court Judge John Worcester-Holland showed the judiciary’s support of the facility. The Open House was well attended by every segment of the Pickens County community.
The ACES Board of Directors would like to give a special thanks to Debs Bakery, 61 Main Restaurant, and the New Lebanon Presbyterian Church’s children’s choir for festive food, songs and holiday cheer.
November 09, 2008
Pickens Progress
For Immediate Release
ACES OPEN HOUSE
In 2003 Superior Court Judge Brenda Weaver cried out to the community for a safe place for children. With the growth of population and drug use in Pickens County, the need for a safe haven for children continues to rise. The community of Pickens County responded to this need by initiating ACES, Appalachian Children’s Emergency Shelter.
ACES mission is to provide a safe and nurturing home for children in need. ACES will provide a caring home environment for eight children who have been removed from their home as a result of abuse or neglect. ACES will serve a crucial role of helping children who need immediate safety. ACES will also assess each child and collaborate with community organizations in order to find the most appropriate long-term placement.
ACES has been built as a community project through financial partnerships, dedicated volunteers, and munificent donations. The Board of Directors committed to a no debt policy; thus the facility was built in phases, as funding was available. Through the generosity of the community, ACES has completed the construction of the facility.
ACES wants to invite the community to the Open House on December sixth from two to four in the evening to view the completed home. ACES is incredibly thankful for all the support and wants to take this opportunity to show what together, the community has built.
For more information please visit www.acespickens.org, email communityrelations@acespickens.org, or call (706) 253-2375.
Pickens Progress
For Immediate Release
Appalachian Children’s Emergency Shelter, ACES is going to open its doors this Saturday, December 6th from 2-4 pm for the community to view what together we have built. The building is now complete and fully furnished. ACES was featured on WSBTV’s People 2 People last Sunday, and now it is fully furnished and decorated to welcome children. It will house up to eight children who have been removed from their home due to abuse or neglect. ACES will provide a safe haven for children who need a place of refuge.
Now, ACES staff will submit the license application to the Department of Family and Children Services to be a Child Caring Institution. Once the state approves the license application, ACES will welcome the children of Pickens County. Larry Butler, president of the ACES Board of Directors said, “the community has created from scratch a beautiful, warm and welcoming children’s shelter to house and nurture our neediest youth. The shelter building is constructed, inspected, furnished and decorated for the joyous season, all without incurring debt. This was possible because our community recognized the needs of our children and stepped forward with contributions, both monetary and steadfast hard work. Now, we will focus on staffing the shelter and getting our state license. This must be done before receiving any stipend from the state once children arrive. Thus, we are opening ACES to show the accomplishments of the building and to invite the community to continue to make this possible through donations.”
The Board of Directors would like to invite the community to come view the safe haven this Saturday. There will be cider, punch, and a variety of holiday treats for those who come to see what we hope is truly a warm and nurturing environment for children in need. Also, the children’s choir from New Lebanon Presbyterian Church will sing carols as we celebrate this holiday season.
The Board of Directors would like to thank the volunteers who have put months of time, skills, and dedication into building this beautiful home. Construction was truly a community project with neighbor helping neighbor. The Board of Directors is tremendously grateful for the partnership and community effort shown in this project.
ACES is located at 133 Cares Drive, Jasper, GA 30143. The Open House will be Saturday December 6th from 2-4 pm. Please call (706) 253-2375 or visit www.acespickens.com for more information.
October 27, 2008
The Walmart Foundation
The Walmart Foundation awards ACES, Appalachian Children's Emergency Shelter with a one thousand dollar grant toward their building capital campaign. Pictured are Lisa Kiser (Walmart Assistant Manager), Robyn Richardson (ACES Director of Community Relations), and Imogene Hughes (Walmart Community Involvement Coordinator).
October 20, 2008
ACES THANKS VOLUNTEERS
ACES, Appalachian Children's Emergency Shelter is putting the final touches on the new facility. ACES is incredibly thankful for all the volunteers who have come out over the past month to help in the final stage of construction. Mark Hinton has done a fabulous job of leading the volunteer teams in completing ACES. ACES wants to invite the entire community to the Open House on December 6th from 2-4 pm. ACES will be a home for children who have been removed from their homes as a result of abuse or neglect. ACES will provide a caring home environment for eight children.
September 19, 2008
The Pickens High School LEO Club volunteers with ACES.
A group of twelve dedicated students from the LEO (Leadership, Experience, and Opportunity) Club spent last Saturday helping ACES (Appalachian Children's Emergency Shelter) prepare their facility to provide a safe and nurturing home for children in need. The LEO club is an organization held at Pickens High School that encourages students to give back to the community through volunteer opportunities. The LEO club was originated at Pickens Middle School three years ago and is excited to activate the club for the first time at Pickens High School. It is led by Jasper Lion's Club liaison, Lawton Baggs. ACES is honored to be the first service day of this year for the LEO club. ACES values teenage volunteers, because ACES will serve children ages eight to seventeen years old. ACES residents will be boys and girls who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect and need a safe haven.
September 08, 2008
The Alliance Women of Mountain View Community Church
The Alliance Women of Mountain View Community Church conducted an undergarment drive for the children of ACES, Appalachian Children's Emergency Shelter. ACES serves children who have been removed from their home as a result of abuse or neglect and need an emergency place to stay. Often times these children have nothing but the clothes on their backs. The Alliance Women recognized the need of providing essential items for the children. The Mountain View Community Church joined together and collected several boxes of undergarments for the children of ACES.
August 29, 2008
The First Mountain City Quilters
The First Mountain City Quilters believe in the mission of ACES: to provide a safe and nurturing home for children in need. These ladies presented ACES with forty handcrafted quilts to enable ACES in nurturing the children they serve. ACES, Appalachian Children's Emergency Shelter will provide a caring home environment and assessment for eight children. ACES will serve children who have been removed from their home as a result of abuse or neglect and do not have a safe place to stay. ACES will also collaborate with DFCS and other community agencies to establish a permanent placement for each child. The First Mountain City Quilters donated quilts for each of these children as a representation of the love and support of the community. A sample of the quilts will be displayed at the Sharp Top Art Center from September 19th through October 11th.
August 25, 2008
The Alliance Women of Mountain View Community Church
The Alliance Women of Mountain View Community Church partner with ACES, Appalachian Children's Emergency Shelter, by providing welcome boxes for the boys and girls. The Alliance Women presented ACES with welcome boxes that include toiletries, small stuffed animals, and other essential items to help each individual child feel loved. ACES mission is to provide a safe and nurturing home to children in need. ACES will offer a caring home environment and assessment for eight children up to a ninety-day time period.
August 25, 2008
BUY A BRICK CAMPAIGN
Appalachian Children's Emergency Shelter (ACES)
April 14, 2008
It is twelve year old Crystal Buckingham and her mother, Traci Buckingham presenting a $500 donation to Appalachian Children's Emergency Shelter, Robyn Richardson. Crystal conducted a raffle at her school, and she raised $500 for ACES. She also presented a plaque from Harmony Elementary, Jasper Elementary, Jasper Middle, and Tate Elementary school, acknowledging their support of ACES.
April 28, 2008
Jasper Drugs and Gifts
Jasper Drugs and Gifts partners with Appalachian Children's Emergency Shelter (ACES) to ensure every child who comes to ACES will get their own stuffed animal. Statistics show the average child in the state's custody moves through seven foster homes. Often times, the children do not get to keep any toys they receive during this time period. ACES desires to give each child a stuffed animal to keep with them forever. In this picture, Michael White, of Jasper Drugs and Gifts, presents Larry Butler, President of the Board of Directors for ACES, Robyn Richardson, Director of ACES, and Pam Butler, Member of the Board of Directors for ACES, stuffed animals for the children of ACES.
May 12, 2008
State Farm agents, Parish Lowrie, Casey Warnock, and Marty Callahan
State Farm agents, Parish Lowrie, Casey Warnock, and Marty Callahan partner with Appalachian Children's Emergency Shelter (ACES) in providing a safe and nurturing home for children in need. State Farm awarded ACES the Good Neighbor Citizenship to assist in the final stages of constructing a temporary place for children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect.
May 19, 2008
Appalachian Technical College's Interior's program
Appalachian Technical College's Interior's program, led by Ginger Burton, developed a schematic furniture arrangement for the new facility of Appalachian Children's Emergency Shelter (ACES). ACES is in the final stage of constructing an emergency home for children who have been victims of abuse and neglect. ACES will house eight children for up to ninety days, until a permanent placement can be found. The Interior's program developed a layout of furniture that will provide a safe, nurturing, and friendly environment for children. In this picture, Front L-R are Nicole Eckhardt, Valerie Gonzalez, Melissa Yarbrough and Back L-R are Issac Chadwick, Allison Mattia, Robyn Richardson (ACES Director of Community Relations), Lori Rezutko, and Ginger Burton (Appalachian Tech Instructor).
