Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
PLACE TO CALL HOME
Celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy by renovating duplex for homeless clients
The spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. looms large in Coatesville.
Dozens of volunteers from W.C. Atkinson Memorial Community Service Center and the community are working hard to fully renovate a duplex home at 743 Merchant St. for three men experiencing homelessness.
The existing Atkinson Center shelter is able to house up to 22 men experiencing homelessness and its motto is “A Place Men Can Call Home.”
Atkinson Shelter Coordinator Andrew McNeil Jr. was hard at work last week at the now-under-construction home and said that the renovations reflected those of King’s “Poor Peoples Campaign.”
The National Day of Service and King’s birthday, a national holiday, occur Monday.
After renovations lasting approximating two weeks, the home will house three working men seeking permanent housing. Two dumpsters were filled, and dozens of volunteers were busy last week climbing ladders and hammering nails, to fully renovate the home into a 3-bedroon, 2½ bath living unit in the heart of Coatesville. The three men rent and share the home.
“We are paying homage to that dream to have it completed on his birthday,” McNeil said about the King holiday and renovations. “To see someone move into the house after it’s completed will make for a successful end.”
Minnie McNeil is vice president of the board of directors at Atkinson and is Andrew’s mother, and talked about King.
“He dreamed of all people coming together for the betterment of the community and this underscores the effectiveness of the community coming together for the common good,” Minnie McNeil said.
Joe Lisowski was busy last week while working at the duplex. He is a repair supervisor with Good Works Inc. and works with electrical and plumbing.
“I love doing this kind of stuff,” he said. “Folks will be living in an actual house and I can’t think of anything better than that.
“This is what the Lord is wanting us to do, and we’re here to do his work.”
The housing renovation was paid for with an American Rescue Plan Act grant (ARPA) through the Chester County Commissioners.
Atkinson has been very busy helping the community. Sealy Corp. recently donated 250 new mattresses that Atkinson distributed from a semi-truck.
“Many were sleeping on the floor,” Andrew McNeil said. “You always try to service your community anyway you can.”
Volunteers are pitching in to help out in Coatesville.
“They walked away with more than a mattress,” said Andrew’s wife Raelyn McNeil.
Minnie McNeal said that life is so much more comfortable after a good night’s sleep.
Coatesville resident William Hensen was sleeping on an air mattress until he received a new Sealy mattress.
“It’s way more comfortable,” he exclaimed. “I appreciate it.
“It was one of the best gifts of the year.”
Lanayja Mason would agree.
“I just moved back into the area and had to start everything new.
“I’m very, very comfortable. I am sleeping very peacefully.”
Colleen Breeden is the social service coordinator for Better Tomorrows at Regency Apartments’ in Coatesville.
Five components are addressed by the organization:
health, wellness, nutrition; financial literacy; job readiness and stability; academic support; and social and community engagement.
The gift of the mattresses contributes to the health, wellness and financial literacy of the residents.
“Sleep is such a big part of your health,” Breeden said.
“There are a lot of stressors on single moms who are sleeping on couches and air mattresses.
“Now they have a nice comfortable bed they can sleep on.”
The Atkinson Center looks forward to volunteers assembling care packages for veterans that are experiencing homelessness. The care packages will include hand warmers, ponchos, socks, washcloths, soap, snacks and more.