A large group of supporters joined the House of Hope board of directors and residents Wednesday in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new chapel on campus.
The House of Hope is dedicated to helping individuals recover from substance addictions. The House runs a 12-month residential program to help its clients. Founded in 2014, the organization took over a 28-acre complex which had housed a Youth Challenge Florida program which had ceased to use the property. When the campus was taken over by the House of Hope, they faced a real challenge in renovating the buildings.
Two volunteers with construction experience took on the roles of construction managers. Frank Mastalka and Mike Slating worked for over a year to transform the campus with the help of residents and volunteers. They were awarded plaques for their service by board member Mary Starkey who also gave their wives, Pam Slating and Maggie Mastalkafloral, floral arrangements for the support they gave their husbands. Mrs Slater, a resident of the Village of Duval for the past 10 years and Mrs. Mastalka of the Village of Tamarind Grove both indicated that their husbands gave up golf and other leisure activities for over a year while working on the campus.
After the ribbon-cutting, the audience was given a tour of the facilities and were treated to a selection of deserts and other foods as well as boxes of Russell Stover chocolates.
For more information on House of Hope visit http://www.houseofhopefl.org
