| | | From Dreams to Reality: Christa’s Journey to Homeownership For Christa, a young mother of three who sought out help from Open Door Community, homeownership was a dream long in the making. For 15 years she had envisioned a stable, secure home for her family—a dream that seemed distant and elusive amidst life's many challenges. Christa’s journey to homeownership was marked by perseverance and a relentless pursuit of her goal, fueled by the desire to provide a better life for her family. Before connecting with first-time homebuyer counseling at Helping Overcome Poverty’s Existence, now Open Door Community, Christa was juggling multiple responsibilities. She worked full-time while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in human services and eventually a master’s degree in special education. Her journey was shaped by both personal and financial hurdles, including an unforeseen event that left her husband unable to work, leaving their family in a precarious financial situation. Despite these hurdles, Christa's dream of owning a home remained a steadfast priority. Her quest began with online research, where she stumbled upon Open Door’s counseling services. The process of buying a home seemed overwhelming, particularly the complexities of credit building and navigating the paperwork involved. Christa needed guidance on these fronts, and that’s where HUD Certified Housing Counselor Jordan Atwood became pivotal in her journey. Jordan’s support was instrumental in demystifying the process. He helped Christa tackle credit repair, addressing collections she wasn’t even aware of and teaching her how to interpret her credit report. Beyond credit, Jordan guided her through the USDA Rural Development loan application, a process that stretched over a year. Jordan’s ability to break down the sometimes overwhelming paperwork and other requirements into manageable steps was crucial. The turning point came when Christa, guided by Jordan, successfully built a new home on family land—a property with deep sentimental value. This land had been in her husband’s family for over a century, and building their home here symbolized not just achieving a long-held dream but also honoring family heritage.  Photo by Aubrey Odom on Unsplash Moving into the new home around Thanksgiving three years ago, Christa’s family was greeted with newfound comfort and security. Gone were the days of dealing with freezing pipes and unreliable heating in their old mobile home. The new home, complete with modern amenities, provided them with stability, comfort, and safety. The children now had their own rooms, a yard to play in, and a sense of belonging in a community. Christa’s oldest daughter even claimed the basement as her own little apartment, a testament to the newfound space and comfort they enjoyed. "Every step was exciting to me, but I wanted it to go faster" Reflecting on her journey, Christa’s advice to prospective homeowners is clear: don’t let the complexities deter you. Seek out resources like Open Door Community, which offer valuable pre- and post-purchase guidance and support. The process, though daunting, becomes navigable with the right assistance, as it did for Christa. Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance, the importance of seeking help, and the fulfillment that comes from realizing a long-held dream. |
| | Names and photos have been changed to protect privacy. Interview conducted by Eric Bucey. Article edited by Eric Bucey |
| | |  | Executive Director Jordan Stidham Sat Down with WDBJ 7@four Tune in to learn more about our mission and how our community impact has grown since the organization began. |
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 | Open Door Community Breaks Ground on Fairview Town Homes The $2.37 million, 12-unit Fairview Townhomes development is located on an approximate 1-acre site near Fairview Industrial Park |
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| | | |  | 13th Annual Stuffed Strut, Coming November 28, 2024 Presented by Ballad Health Smyth County Community Hospital Runners, walkers, and kids join and raise funds in the fight against hunger. Kids under 10 may run or walk the 1-mile fun run. When: Thursday, November 24, 2024 in person or anytime November 1 - 30 Where: Wytheville, VA What: Chip-timed 5k race, 5k run/walk, 1-mile kids fun run, frozen turkey team relay, or strut your way virtual run Why: It's a Zero Hunger Thanksgiving 5k to End Hunger |
| | | Zero Hunger There will be a day when we celebrate the end of hunger in our community! |
|  | Share This! Help open doors to hope. Sharing with friends is a simple way you can help fight hunger. Tell friends to dine in or carry out. | | | | Hi Everyone, Open Door Café achieved remarkable milestones last year thanks to your incredible support. From August 1, 2023 through July 31, 2024, the cafe proudly served 10,308 healthy, chef-made lunch meals, with over 7,500 generously subsidized by charitable donations. We’re thrilled to share that more than 43% of our patrons contributed by volunteering, earning a $10 meal for their efforts. Offering reduced-priced meal deals as low as $3 each, your contributions are crucial in making these meals accessible to those in need. In our first full year post-relaunch, including revenue from all sources such as full-pay catering sales, the average donation per meal rose from $2.06 to $9.41—a testament to the growing community support. Excluding earned catering revenues, per-plate donations from in-cafe guests were $6.27 each, increasing 204%. At the same time, we served 6,000 fewer dine-in meals, yet 100% of our guests either volunteered or donated, reflecting our community's strong spirit of giving. Over the past 12 months since our relaunch, 74% of our guests have enjoyed a meal earned through volunteering or received at a reduced price. Your ongoing generosity is truly making a difference. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to Open Door Café. Together, we’re building a stronger, more inclusive community. Warm regards, |
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| | |  | “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.” -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., from the "Drum Major Instinct," February 4, 1968 |
| | | | Are you interested in Open Door Café, HOPE Packs, or Grow Wythe Us Community Garden volunteer shifts? |
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| | | Breaking generational poverty through enhanced food security and housing affordability |
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Serving Wythe, Bland, Carroll, Grayson and Smyth Counties as well as the City of Galax |
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| H.O.P.E is now Open Door Community
680 W Main Street | Wytheville, Virginia 24382
276-228-6280 | help@wythehope.org |
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