After months of preparation and community support, Together We Can is excited to announce that their foster care transition home is complete and is set to open in the coming weeks. This is a significant step forward in the mission to support Macon County’s foster children and families.
We’re so grateful for all the trades that worked on the house, led by General Contractor Josh Berg, and everyone who donated to make this possible. We couldn’t have done it without the community’s support.
The path to opening wasn’t without challenges. After working closely with the Department of Social Services to finalize policies, procedures, and internal processes, the Together We Can Transition House is ready to welcome its first guests.
All the back-end logistics took time, but we wanted to make sure everything was in place to properly care for everyone. We’re focused on the kids, but all these important details need to be handled first.
The transition home represents a crucial resource for Macon County and will provide immediate, safe housing for children entering the system while permanent placements are arranged.
Looking ahead
Together We Can is already planning the next phase: an educational building that was generously donated by Mark and Vicky Hein and Josh Atwood with the Sylvan Oaks Foundation. It was constructed under the lead of Robbie Vernelson, a general contractor on the TWC Board, and Payne’s Construction and Steel Erectors in Toccoa, Ga. TWC is working to raise funds to finish the interior of the building. This expansion will demonstrate their commitment to supporting foster families, recruiting new foster families, and providing life skills training and educational support to help break the cycle of foster care dependency.
To support the ongoing mission, three team members, Denise Stubbs, Aubrey Balmer, Matthew Maxwell, and I will participate in a “Runningman” marathon, Sept. 13, in Rome, Ga. The community is invited to sponsor the runners as they go the distance for the fostering community; anyone can support the team by contributing to their “$26 for 26 miles” campaign, with all proceeds directly supporting foster children and families.
Just like supporting foster families takes a village, preparing for this race takes a team. We’re training hard and hope the community will join us in supporting these children who need our help.
Together We Can continues to serve the fostering community through various programs, including educating on the needs in Macon County, recruiting new foster families, and supporting existing families with supplies, support services, and advocacy. The organization recently held its annual back-to-school bash, providing supplies to foster and adoptive families with some of the supplies donated by the community, local businesses, and churches.
For more information about Together We Can or to support the “26 for 26 miles” fundraiser, visit togetherwecan.xyz or email julie@ togetherwecan.xyz.
Pictured top: HICKORY KNOLL Global Methodist Church members Dana Biggerstaff and Linda Norwood, as well as Adam Schwimer and Julie Adams, donated a car full of school supplies for the Together We Can back to school bash.