Sacred Grounds buys van to help with developmentally disabled

Over the past year, Sacred Grounds has seen plenty of growth in its effort to positively touch the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

Increasing the quality and joy of life for those individuals has been at the forefront of the organization since its inception, and the way the community has responded has been nothing short of inspiring.

According to Director Griffin Long, Sacred Grounds started with five individuals two days a week, and over the span of the past year, the numbers have leaped forward to 24 individuals coming to the facility five days a week.

“We’ve definitely been blessed,” Long said. “Watching this all come together was an incredible moment for us.”

Like always, experiencing that type of growth comes with growing pains, and one big issue that cropped up was finding a way to increase transportation possibilities. With individuals coming to Sacred Grounds — which is located at Grace Church in Berlin — from Holmes, Wayne and Tuscarawas counties, the organization transports its clients to and from the facility.

The van they had was useful but not big enough, so Long began the search for a larger van that also was wheelchair accessible.

That opportunity came in the form of a Ford F-350 with extended capacity and a high ceiling.

It was a perfect fit, but for a nonprofit organization, the $43,000 price tag was the issue.

That was where the local community came through.

Long and the board began seeking out possible donors for the purchase and quickly found plenty of help. Holmes County Association for Handicapped Citizens, Save & Serve Thrift Shop, Harvest Thrift Store, and Hershberger Roofing and Construction all gave to the cause. A few additional dollars were needed, and board member Rhoda Mast agreed to pick up the final amount to reach the mark.

Long was able to purchase the van in July, driving to South Carolina and picking it up, driving it home, and putting it to use the very next day.

Since then the organization has found the van critical to its transportation needs.

“This allowed us to serve more people,” Long said. “This is critical to our growth.”

“I think this has been critical for us because we have three individuals in a wheelchair, and this allows us to transport them safely and efficiently,” staff member Bethany Stallman said. “I think this has been absolutely vital to what we want to accomplish in serving the families who utilize our services.”

She said the way the van is built to accommodate eight people with side seating with the two wheelchair individuals in the center creates a more welcoming atmosphere that invites more inclusion among the group.

And it was all thanks to the community of givers who made the purchase possible.

“The community has really been the reason we’ve gone from five participants in April of 2022 to serving 24 people today and expanded to five days,” Long said. “I think the community has gotten behind our mission and values and has recognized the services we provide and the joy we’ve brought to many families. Providing for the purchase of this van is just another way they have shown their support for what God has brought into this community.”

Staff member Cindy Miller said the faith-based organization has hit the mark with many people throughout the area, and that has been instrumental in the organization’s growth.

Long said the only goal of Sacred Grounds is to serve others and to be responsible for what God provides, and in this case the provision was much needed.

Long said initially he hoped to find a minivan that could transport wheelchair individuals, but when this larger van became available, it was ideal.

“To me, this was a godsend,” Long said. “We are so humbled and blessed to be part of such a giving, compassionate community.”

Long said the idea is to be able to show up at community events and not be an attention-grabbing event, so having multiple vehicles has done that.

Should the growth continue, it may not be long until Sacred Grounds is seeking to purchase another vehicle, but until that time comes, they will be grateful to a community that has a heart for giving to service-oriented organizations.