GREENFIELD — Before welcoming its first residents, the Talitha Koum Women’s Recovery House is opening its doors to the public with a community open house, scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
The newly remodeled home at 527 E. Main St., Greenfield, will be open from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, and anyone interested in seeing its interior or hearing more about the programs for women battling addiction that will soon be offered there is welcome to attend.
Here’s what you need to know about Talitha Koum, the folks who founded the facility and what the house’s future might look like:
Who started Talitha Koum?
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Linda Ostewig along with Gary and Carol Wright, who all have loved ones who have battled addiction, thought up the idea for Talitha Koum in 2015.
Gary Wright, a local pastor, said he still remembers the funeral that felt like the last straw. The casket he stood over while officiating the service held what remained of yet another young life cut short.
He remembers striding over to Ostewig and saying they needed to do more to stop these addiction-related deaths. And from there they got to work.
They rallied support, put together a board and founded the nonprofit organization Friends of Recovery.
They raised money. They purchased a house in downtown Greenfield and put more than $200,000 of work into remodeling it. They created their own recovery curriculum and have now hired a staff.
What helped bring the plan to fruition?
In short: a lot of community support.
When they first set off on their journey, Talitha Koum’s founders didn’t see such warmth from the community, Gary Wright said. There was a lot of negative talk and remarks about not wanting a sober living facility in the city’s downtown.
But as the years passed, as the opioid crisis gripped tighter on the state, leading the county to declare a state of emergency and hire additional police officers to try to catch drug dealers, the tone turned, Wright said.
It seemed people started to better understand the need for a facility like Talitha Koum, he said. And support rolled in.
“The community changed,” he said.
Funding for the place comes from a combination of donations, grants and sponsorship. Hancock County and Greenfield city officials chipped in taxpayer dollars as well to help cover construction and operating costs.
Where is the project now?
It’s nearly ready. All that’s left to do is finish up hiring and training staff, and that should be done by the end of the month.
Construction on the house — which was completely gutted when Friends of Recovery acquired it — is complete.
There are beds in the bedrooms, a couch in the living room and a table big enough to seat 10 fills the long kitchen.
The walls were painted a light gray color by inmates enrolled in the county’s work release program. Compasses and pictures of landscapes decorate the place, serving as a reminder that recovery is a journey to a new life.
All around there are plaques displaying the names of community members and organizations who have supported Talitha Koum financially. The facility’s founders hope these serve as a reminder to the residents there is a community supporting their journey.
When will it open officially?
Organizers say they’ll begin accepting applications for its first set for residents in late September, and they hope to have those residents moved into the facility in October.
The house has four bedrooms and enough space for as many as 10 women in recovery. A house manager will oversee programs there, and a residential assistant will be onsite 24/7.
In addition to working their recovery program, the women who move in will learn self and social responsibility as well as life skills and self-care. They’ll seek employment, and each house member will pay a low-cost monthly contribution to the household.
How can I help?
Donations are always accepted online at talithakoum-for.org/give.
Donations can also be mailed to Friends of Recovery at P.O. Box 566, Greenfield, IN, 46140.
Follow Talitha Koum Women’s Recovery House on Facebook for updates on upcoming fundraisers.
What’s next?
For a long time, organizers have said they’ll set their sights on starting a men’s recovery house once Talitha Koum was finished.
Their ambitions have never changed, and a men’s home will surely come next, Wright said.
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Leaders of the Talitha Koum Women’s Recovery House in Greenfield — the city’s first recovery house — will hold a public open house Sunday. All are invited to attend.
Time: 2-6 p.m.
Date: Sunday
Place: 527 E. Main St.
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The fourth annual Ashley Burton Recovery Walk — an event that supports the Talitha Koum Women’s Recovery House and The Landing, and helps connect locals with area recovery programs — will take place Sept. 29.
The event is named for Greenfield native Ashley Burton, who died from a drug overdose at age 26; but each year organizers recognize another who fell victim to the disease of addiction. This year’s walk is held in memory of Melissa Smallwood, who died on Nov. 26, 2014.
Those wishing to participate can register at http://ashleyburtonrecoverywalk2018.eventzilla.net. On-site registration will be available, but T-shirts are available only for those who preregister. Deadline for preregistration is Sept. 22.
Walker will gather in the Hancock County Courthouse Plaza, 9 E. Main St., just south of the courthouse, on Sept. 29.
Resource tables will be set up by 9 a.m. The walk through town and down the Pennsy Trail will begin at 10 a.m.
Tickets are $25 per person or $20 per person for a group of 4 or more.
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