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January – March 2014
www.deltalivingmagazine.com
By Lisa Taylor
ltaylor4361@hotmail.com
T
he ladies of the Byron Delta Lions
Club held a “Kitchen Shower” to
benefit The Parkhaven Project in Concord.
Pastor Steve of Parkhaven Church introduced
us to Program Director Rob Rawlings. Rob
explained to us that Parkhaven Project is a
triple-wide modular home on the church
grounds, to be designed as a home for 12 to
17-year-old unwed mothers, who have been
abandoned by their families.
Unwed mothers will come to the home
usually in their third trimester, and learn the
responsibilities of raising children, budgeting,
working, living in society and working to-
wards having a good quality of life.The home
has six bedrooms, each accommodating one
mother and one child. The area where the
home is located is somewhat rough; there is
gang activity, prostitution and homelessness.
It is also where most of the young mothers
will come from.The girls will receive regular
medical care and a prenatal plan.These young
mothers feel hopeless and Parkhaven wants to
give them hope.
There is a Headstart program on the
church campus for childcare, while the girls
go to school to learn how to care for their
new baby.They have possibly been previously
abused and may be very angry and distrust-
ful. Some will have trouble following rules and
schedules. Some will have come with a past
with substance abuse.
Volunteers must be aware of the behaviors
they may face.Volunteers must complete ap-
proximately 40 hours of training and com-
mit to a one-year term to be able to provide
continuity for the girls. The goal is to equip
them within one year to be able to move on
and care for their child without needing to
use public assistance.There will be profession-
als and social workers working along with
the trained volunteers to provide advice and
guidance. Some of the girls’ families will have
money to pay and some will come in off the
street.
The babies’ fathers are encouraged to be a
part of their lives as long as it is positive and
healthy. Nearby is Crossroads High School for
unwed mothers, where they can either gradu-
ate or get a GED.
The Byron Delta Lions Club decided to
provide all the necessary kitchen items for
this home.This very generous group of ladies
provided everything from pot holders to pots
and pans, kitchen utensils, dishes, a microwave
oven and much more. With guidance from
Lion Ann Jordan-Talley, we collected nearly
$4,000 worth of kitchen goodies!
A Place for Unwed Mothers
Byron Delta
Lions Club Helps
Photos by Lisa Taylor
(L-R) Pastor Steve Willhite and Pastor Rob Rawlings of Parkhaven Church.