From no AC to all new central air throughout!! Thank you so much to Linder Heating and Air Conditioning for all the time and dedication donated to equip one of the Northern Star houses with air conditioning.  Countless hours spent on searching for the best equipment deals, running all the new lines and installing the new unit.  I can’t forget to mention the quick fix that was made when another dedicated volunteer (thank you T.S. for finishing the new subfloor) fell through the vent in the floor taking out all the duct work with him; the ducts were fixed right away thanks to Linder Heating and Air! Tommy has such a passionate heart for supporting Northern Star and its mission. Tommy, we appreciate all the time you have donated to help keep residents cool this summer!  If you are looking for a fair, hardworking, Christian man to take care of your heating and air needs, give this new, local company a try!

So much time, dedication and energy was spent to ensure Northern Star’s spring yard sale was a huge success…and that it was!

Thank you to Vicki Jarrett, Annette Bassett, Beverly Bond, Susan Lancaster, Ms. Judy, Ms. Gail, Laura Bowers, all the donors, shoppers and everyone else who contributed to set up and take down of the sale each day.  Amazing team work among volunteers helped raise $2200 for Northern Star!!  I cannot thank the volunteers and community enough for making the yard sale so successful.  Northern Star will continue to have a Spring and Fall annual yard sale each year so please keep on donating items to and shopping our sales!

University of North Georgia…where do I start??

So many organizations have dedicated time, donations, décor, labor and support throughout the past year to get Northern Star ready to open it’s doors.

It all started with several volunteers from various fraternities and sororities at Side-by-Side 2016.  Many groups and/or individuals have come back to help work or collect donations throughout the past year after learning about the mission of Northern Star.  I know I have personally seen representatives from Kappa Delta, Phi Mu, Alpha Gamma Delta, Pi Kappa Alpha, and Pi Kappa Phi on the property giving their time and energy.  Thank you UNG Greek Life!

Two special UNG groups have collected donations to help Northern Star stock up on hygiene items and gently used clothing for incoming participants.  UNG Serves collected all types of everyday essentials for each participant, enough to last them a few months.  Lewis Hall 400’s donated several bags of gently used clothing for the participants as well.  Northern Star now has a nicely stocked clothes closet full of wonderful attire to get these ladies started in their workforce and college journeys.

Most recently, Habitat for Humanity college students alone with Mr. Bob and Mr. Larry have spent a couple Saturdays wrapping up many projects at the property.  From base boards and painting to cleaning and installing shower walls, this group is always ready and willing to take on any project no matter how large or small.

BCM served with several members of Habitat the last weekend of March to help get the houses in move in ready condition.  One group of ladies helped wash, sort and stock dishes for all four kitchens while another group distributed and hung the beautiful canvases that Kappa Delta Sorority painted for Northern Star.  The guys helped get furniture in place and several other small projects.  “Things” got painted and houses cleaned leaving the houses almost ready for the first week of April when Northern Star’s contract goes into effect!

 

 

Northern Star appreciates this college town and all of the organizations from the college that support local nonprofits!

Local Daycare, Dahlonega Country Day, staff, parents and children had a great time supporting Northern Star during the month of February.  All classes participated in a competition to see which class could collect the most change to help Northern Star make a “change” in the lives of young ladies aging out of foster care.  We appreciate the director and staff sharing the mission of Northern Star with parents and their children, getting them excited to raise over $500 in change (picture was taken before an absent jar of change was added to the total)!!  DCD you rock; thank you for your continued support!

Northern Star has become great friends with Lumpkin County’s fairly new organization Life Teen Hidden Lake.  The interns, leaders and participants have come at different times throughout the past year to help with various projects on the property starting with a huge workday last March.  The hearts of these young interns are amazing; after serving youth all week they still have more to give through community service on Saturdays.  We have been blessed to have these hard workers continue to make Northern Star beautiful.  Life Teen keep up the remarkable ministry!

Mr. West from West Carpet and Flooring came to visit Northern Star’s campus early this year.  He paid attention to the condition of the original hardwood flooring in the first house on campus.  That house had been smoked in for decades and the floor had been well worn and scratched.  Mr. West contacted Northern Star in February to let us know he was sending out a refinisher to strip and finish all the hardwood in the first house.  What an amazing transformation! No more smoke smell, scratches or worn spots; a beautiful, shiny new finish makes this house look remarkable!

Before:

After:

Thank you Mr. West!

Some of our favorite donations are the one of a kind, personal, thoughtful and snuggly gifts.  Thank you to Ms. Kay and Ms. Ruth for making each of our first 12 young ladies fleece blankets.  They are beautiful and I am sure they will be well used and loved.  Northern Star staff cannot wait for these generous ladies to come teach the participants to make blankets that they can pass on to the incoming participants.  Just a little touch of love and color for each bedroom really makes “a house a home”!  Thank you Ms. Kay and Ms. Ruth!

SunTrust bank managers chose Northern Star as their community service day project.  Managers from all over the region traveled to Dahlonega to come help get the inside and outside of the houses painted.  We were thankful for a beautiful December day to get so much accomplished.  What an amazing group of ladies and gentlemen; great spirits, funny, and willing to do any job big or small to help out.  We really appreciate the time, talent and support from SunTrust Bank managers!