Byesville Rotary introduced to HARP

Pictured: Jim Vaughan, speaker Chair; Tammy Schultheisz, Director HARP Mission; and Chuck Fair, President.

Tammy Schultheisz, Director of the HARP Mission located in Caldwell, explained that HARP stands for “Helping Appalachian Rural People.” HARP is a non-profit, faith-based organization with ties to the Lutheran Church. The organization serves all of Ohio but the biggest percentage of people who are helped live in Guernsey, Washington and Noble Counties.

Schultheisz stated that HARP focuses on providing assistance in disaster relief for victims of home fires, floods and storm damage. HARP has expanded their efforts to include families and individuals who are low income, disabled, veterans, or elderly. The goal of the organization is to help people get settled in safe and sanitary, temporary housing while their homes are repaired. This effort includes helping to restore homes and providing people with large household items such as furniture for bedrooms and living rooms as well as appliances for the kitchen and laundry.

Schultheisz explained that her organization depends on donations of all types to meet their goals of their mission. Donations can be cash, volunteered time, or 8?/gently used furniture and appliances.

Currently, Schultheisz has 236 clients with varying needs, Forty-six need appliances of some type. Refrigerators are the appliance most frequently needed. She also has 16 small construction or repair projects such as repairing a leaky roof, installing a shower or yard work waiting for volunteers to be completed. Three of these projects are wheelchair ramps that need to be built for clients living in Byesville.

In order to meet needs of clients, Schultheisz is developing partnership with local churches and other agencies in the region. Her goal for the coming year is to develop partnerships with at least 150 new churches and businesses. Schultheisz invites people who would like to become involved with HARP to contact her at 740-365-0052 or tammy@harpmission.org.

Chuck Fair and Jim Vaughan presented the club’s newest member, Melinda Yearin who works for Howell-Craig Insurance in Cumberland, to the club members.

The speaker for the September 2 meeting will be Major Jonathon Jeffries. His topic will be the National Reconnaissance Organization.

Connect with Byesville Rotary at: www.Byesvillerotary.blogspot.com or https://www.facebook.com/pages/Byesville-Rotary/256548047818283. The club meets 7:30 am, Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville.. Call Membership Chair Jim Vaughan, 740-432-5605, to learn more about how to join.