By Kaitlyn Tolleson
ktolleson
@eldoradonews.com
“At Agape House, we believe that all children have the right to be loved unconditionally. We seek to provide shelter, refuge and treatment for hurting children of our community while covering them in the same type of love —Agape Love— that our heavenly Father has shown us. We believe that in doing so, these children can heal and grow and spread hope into our community,” reads the mission statement for the Agape House, a non-profit group foster home in El Dorado.
Jennifer Martisek, co-founder of the Agape House, discussed some of the recent updates on the first of five Agape Homes being constructed at 1838 Morning Star Road in El Dorado. This 2,600 square foot home will be the future haven of 10 foster children and two house parents, which is a paid position at the Agape Home. The house parents, Martisek explained, will be a married couple with Christian morals and values that focus on providing the children “a loving, supportive and consistent Christian family experience.” She said that interviews for this position should conclude at the end of August.
The construction of the first home has reached the sheet-rock stage, which will begin today, she said.
The Systems Group of El Dorado is building a Community Center, in honor of the legacy of Charles A. Hays and his love for children, for those living on the Agape House campus. The center will include a computer lab, library, craft room, gym, community room, chapel and game room, she said.
Martisek explained the Agape House is a non-profit organization and this project wouldn’t be possible without the tremendous support of the community.
“We are in need of donations always,” said Martisek. “Right now, we need gift cards or money donations to purchase furniture and food. We are also looking for someone to make cabinets.”
“The reason for starting the organization was to keep our foster children in the community they know,” said Martisek. “We want to break the cycle of children going in and out of foster care. We will have several programs in place for our foster children, including a new program called i-Ready, that will analyze the child’s performance online and determine their education level.”
To donate to the Agape House group, go to supportagape.org/donate or drop off your donation at 1838 Morning Star Road.