By Jodi Hersey
Special to The Weekly
It takes most people years to pay for a home but a small maternity home in Bangor, that
accepts no federal or state funding, managed to do so in just months thanks to hundreds of
donations and a whole lot of answered prayers.
In June of 2013, The Shepherd’s Godparent Home, a nonprofit that provides resources,
counseling and housing to pregnant women in crisis moved to a much bigger residence
within the Queen City. Although the larger space was needed, it also meant the nonprofit
would be responsible for a mortgage; something the old location was fortunate not to have.
However, the home’s executive director, Barbara Ford, never doubted for a moment that
the debt would be paid in full in a short amount of time.
“When we took the mortgage out, it was by faith because when God asks you to do
something, you do it and what we needed to do was help people in our community,” said
Ford.
But in order to help the community, the maternity home needed the community’s help first.
“We did a motorcycle ride last summer and a special showing of the movie, “Give Me Shelter” at Hollywood Cinemas on the Odlin Road [to raise money]. We also had a lot of people give Christmas gifts towards the mortgage,” explained Ford.
When the former home was sold, the proceeds were applied to the mortgage, leaving the
Shepherd’s Godparent Home with approximately $120,000 left on the books. Then an
unexpected offer came in from the Bangor Baptist Church’s Missions Committee. The group
told the nonprofit they’d give them a $60,000 check if they could raise the remaining
$60,000.
Little by little, the Shepherd’s Godparent Home chipped away at the figure and by January of this year the home was just $16,085.41 away from being mortgage free.
With the finish line in sight, Ford decided to hop on the airwaves at FM88.5 to ask listeners to
donate the remaining funds needed.
“We’re an organization that wants to give women an opportunity to choose life but we also
provide pre- and post-abortion counseling for women to be able to heal,” explained Ford.
The calls poured into the station and in just a mere four hours, The Shepherd’s Godparent Home was officially mortgage free.
“It is just amazing to me how a community can come together when they believe in helping each other and pay a mortgage on a home in a year and a half,” Ford said.
In a short 18-month span, supporters, community members, volunteers and complete strangers were able to assist The Shepherd’s Godparent Home in raising thousands of dollars to continue to help pregnant women in crisis for many more years to come.
For more information on The Shepherd’s Godparent Home, its services and how to donate or volunteer, go to godparenthomeme.org.