HICKORY – Dawn Rippy-Brunton and her husband Roger Brunton live in Shelby, and are members of Emanuel Reformed Church in Lincolnton where the Rev. Susan Smith Walker is the pastor. Walker is also assistant executive director of Exodus Homes, the faith-based United Way agency in Hickory that provides supportive housing for homeless recovering people returning to the community from treatment centers and prisons. The Bruntons learned about Exodus Homes through Walker and were interested in the organization’s $1,057,000 capital campaign which is well underway now. They had operated a gift shop several years ago and when it closed they saved the wireless electronic sign. “We had planned to sell it for a few years, but after I toured their new building and saw their passion for their mission, we decided we would donate it to them” said Dawn Brunton.
Seen left to right are the Rev. Susan Smith Walker, Exodus Homes assistant executive director; Roger Brunton; Dawn Rippy-Brunton; the Rev. Reggie Longcrier, Exodus Homes executive director; and Catie Brown, Exodus Homes resident and capital campaign coordinator. The 5 ft. wide wireless electronic sign in the middle was donated to Exodus Homes by the Bruntons for their new building at 610 4th St. SW in Hickory which was purchased as part of their three year $1,057,000 capital campaign which is ongoing now.
The new building at 610 4th St. SW has 12,000 sq. ft. and will house the offices of Exodus Homes, the offices of their vocational training enterprises Exodus Works, and their thrift store. The building was purchased last December with a loan from Capital Bank and will be paid off with funds raised in the three year capital campaign. It is being renovated now. They plan to move into the building in stages, beginning with the thrift store.
The sign is five ft. long and is valued at $3,500. When operational, it will sit inside one of the new display windows and scroll electronic messages to the public about sales, new stock, and special events. “Our new thrift store will be beautiful, and this sign takes it to another level by helping draw people in as they drive by” said the Rev. Reggie Longcrier, executive director of Exodus Homes.
Walker is proud of her Lincolnton church members who appreciate the fact that Exodus Homes has served people from Lincolnton and the Shelby area for many years. “This gift from the Bruntons is a blessing and will add to the landmark appeal of our new building along with our outdoor mural” she said.
Other projects in the Exodus Homes capital campaign include major renovations to all of their housing locations plus newer model vehicles, tools, and equipment for Exodus Works. For more information about Exodus Homes, go to
www.exodushomes.org or contact the Rev. Susan Smith Walker at 828-962-8196 or
revsusanwalker@gmail.com.
