21 Feb Hope Forest Is Now Open!

We held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on January 25 to showcase and celebrate Hope Forest, our new twin home in Ambler for two families in transition to self-sufficiency. The incredible generosity of the First Presbyterian Church of Ambler allowed us to purchase the house, and the help of countless volunteers and generous community donors allowed us to make it a home.

As Marsha Eichelberger, our Executive Director, said, “This project would not have been possible without the support of the community. Thank you for transforming 330 Forest Avenue from a house with two run-down, out-of-date apartments into an attractive residence with two beautiful, modern, energy-efficient homes.“

We are so grateful to the committee that oversaw the purchase of the home, the contractors who inspected the home pre-purchase to ensure that renovation was feasible, and the Valentine Foundation, a local organization that provides funds to programs which empower women and girls, for providing low-interest bridge funding that enabled us to begin the renovation work quickly.

Thanks also go out to the many volunteers who made renovation of the property possible. Corporate and community groups involved included Sports Unlimited, Ambler Savings Bank, SSC Distributors, Blue Bell Rotary Club, Global Indemnity, and Lowes Home Improvement.

Over a dozen local faith organizations partnered with us on the project, including Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Washington, Church of the Brethren, St. Thomas Episcopal Church of Whitemarsh, Upper Dublin Lutheran Church, Grace Baptist Church, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Congregation Beth Or, Ambler Mennonite Church, Jarrettown United Methodist Church, Church of the Messiah, and Supplee Presbyterian Church.

And we can’t forget the key volunteers who went above and beyond to accomplish the renovation, including Bob Allmond, Guy Zambella, Dave and Nancy Bischoff, Bill Martin, Steve Batschelet, and Tom Wynn, Inter-Faith’s board president.

Last, but certainly not least, we want to express our deepest appreciation to volunteer general contractor Todd Smith of Pleasant Contracting, who oversaw the project—donating hundreds of hours of time in the process. We are forever grateful to him.

One of the new residents of the house wrote a letter to express her thanks:

“Please understand that I am extremely appreciative of all of your hard work and dedication. From volunteers, to church members, to Inter-Faith staff—you all have been a blessing to my family. To see a network/community of people come together for a positive cause warms my heart. To witness people who don’t even know me care enough to help provide my family with a home shows humanity in its purest form. I am blessed indeed.”