In the half-melted snowy landscape, a podium sat atop a flatbed trailer surrounded by 15 bright red shovels, a glaring contrast of color against the ground, which sandwiched a sign saying, “Future Home of Isaiah 117 House.” Standing before the stage, a crowd of almost 130 people braving the cold afternoon clutching complimentary hot chocolates, waited for the event to begin.
Isaiah 117 House held its ground-breaking ceremony for its new location in Muncie Jan. 17. The event included several speakers, notably Krista Garrett, Indiana Department of Child Services local office director, and Shannon Henry, Delaware County commissioner for district three.
Other speakers included Hannah Coffman, Delaware County’s Isaiah II7 House coordinator; Lee Anderson, general contractor for the project and owner of AM Construction Residential Inc.; Kevin Holt, senior pastor of Glad Tidings Church; Gary Schwenke, construction manager for Isaiah 117 House; and Kimberlie Hall, also with Isaiah 117 House.
Henry said the property for the house was given to Isaiah 117 House by the Delaware County commissioners after they heard the story of what Coffman and others wanted to build.
“This is going to be great for the kids of Delaware County,” Henry said.
The property will serve as another location of Isaiah 117 House, which, according to their website, provides a home for children to stay after being removed from a home.
Attendees raise their hands in response to a question of whether they are connected to DCS or foster care in any way. The ceremony they attended was led by Hannah Coffman, Delaware County’s Isaiah II7 House coordinator. Abigail Denault, DN
Normally, children would have to wait at the Department of Child Services (DCS) office for placement, sometimes waiting for hours or days. Isaiah 117 House provides several services for children during this period and seeks to “reduce trauma,” “lighten the load for child welfare services” and “ease the transition for foster families.”
Coffman, along with her husband, Tim, knew what the transition was like for foster families. They became foster parents shortly after they were married and continued to do so for nine years. The situation they saw during that time is what she said drove her in 2021 toward getting an Isaiah 117 House started in Muncie.
“We have been faced with several situations that have left us feeling isolated,” Coffman said. “The biggest thing we have learned is that there's a distinct separation between the system and those kids.”
Isaiah 117 House has been growing across the United States with houses in various stages in twelve states, according to their website.
During his speech Schwenke said how, as the only construction manager, he travels around the country for the organization. Just recently, he was in Florida and is heading to Texas next, after Indiana.
“In all of those locations, I get to see people be the hands and feet of Jesus everywhere I go,” he said. “It's so encouraging, not only here in this county, but in all counties that we go to.”
Part of those hands were a large number of volunteers, community members, DCS workers and caseworkers who attended the event. One of those volunteers was Victoria Scott, who has volunteered for Isaiah 117 House for two years.
She said the organization is currently helping the children by packing bags in a storage unit, but once the house is operational, they will be able to do more.
“When we get the actual house, we can give them a warm bed and a nice place to sleep, and they don't have to stay in the DCS office. It's going to be great,” Scott said.
For the caseworkers and other DCS workers, Isaiah 117 House also provides them with a bit of support on the job because, as the house is built, there are still several children going through the removal and placement process.
Devin McKinley was one of the attendees of the event and works at DCS.
“[Isaiah 117 volunteers] come to our office a few times now, and they bring goodies for not only the kids but also for us. And I just, I love what they got going on,” McKinley said. “I just think they're doing God's work out here.”
Coffman said the team is ready to jump in.
“We're ready to move past packing bags, and really start engaging the community on another level,” she said.
A part of that community engagement was the event itself. Attendees were able to put their names onto small wooden hearts, which were to be placed in a frame for the new house.
In all likelihood, it will be a while before concrete can be poured and construction can truly begin at a brisk pace, but until then, it’s a waiting game. Yet, that doesn’t mean it’s time to reign in efforts.
“Don't just show up today,” Garrett said. “Keep coming back, because our kids need all of us.”
Contact Abigail Denault via email at abigail.denault@bsu.edu.
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