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Community Corner

Restoring Lives and Homes

A new non-profit in Woodstock is dedicated to fighting homelessness.

One local non-profit agency only three months old is successfully reaching out to the homeless and those a little less fortunate.

"I was in between, where I couldn't find a shelter," Kenna Kittinger said. "I was starving; I went days without food. One day I left a message at Restore, and Tracy [Atkins] called me back, and they actually came to me. They helped me out with rent, with food, they gave me hope."

Tracy Adkins is the one of the founders behind the whole operation of Restore, the sister site to Revive Consignment that’s been open since March.

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Kittinger was taken in by members of Jubilee, the parent church to all of Restore's charity work. Although still technically without a home of her own, she's already been compelled by the experience to join forces with Restore, hoping to share the good fortune they've helped her to find.

"You want to give back. I've been there, so when I see people come through here, I want them to know there's somebody that cares about them. This is very special to me," Kittinger said, wiping away a tear.

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When Tracy and her husband Trevor came to America from the UK, their dedication to charitable endeavors came with them. Though from different backgrounds, both were raised in situations that foster a deep understanding of what a kind heart can accomplish.

"My house, growing up, was an open house to people who were struggling. People with depression, anorexics, people who were suicidal. It feels sort of natural, to me, to have a home like that," Tracy said. Even now, the couple shares their home with those in serious need.

For Trevor, the drive becomes even more personal.

"Tracy and I used to foster in the UK, and that got us started on wanting to give back," Trevor said. "But my dad grew up in a children's home, my sister was abandoned as a baby; there are so many things in my life that God put there that lead up to this. It's not just an organization. It's a lifestyle."

The husband and wife duo partnered together nearly five years ago to create Revive Consignment, a second-hand shop.

But for Tracy, the focus was always on bettering lives.

"The intent, even before starting Revive, was always to help the homeless," Tracy said.

As Revive became more profitable, they decided to funnel the overflow into a new non-profit outfit less than a block away, catering more exclusively to those in a bad financial state.

The front of the store, Tracy explained, is still a part of Revive. The items that don't sell there, such as clothing, odds and ends for the home and décor, are brought over at an even deeper discount, rather than simply recycled back through Revive's racks. It's in the second room that the real charity begins, however, with a fully stocked food pantry that Tracy describes as being "no questions asked."

"They don't have to register, they just sign in. If they ask for further help, then we provide resources for medical centers, rehabilitation hospitals and shelters," Tracy said.

Otherwise, the team at Restore prefers to remain non-invasive. How far their help goes is entirely up to whoever's asking for it.

Additionally, the team sponsors a monthly Community Table where food is served family-style to the homeless.

Now, through her own hard work and the dedication of compassionate volunteers, like Kittinger, Tracy has been able to see the success of the Restore project after only three months in business.

Though personal experiences paved the way, it was through the teachings of their particular church that Trevor, Tracy and Tracy's business partner Trisha Lawrence found the inspiration to open their lives to those dealing with financial hardships, and attempt to combat homelessness in Woodstock.

"The joy of this, for me, is that this is what Jesus did," explained Tracy explained. “’From him comes living water that refreshes our soul.' Those words represent God and getting people out of a place of hurting."

The words serve as a sort of personal mantra for Tracy, who has relied on them to see her through a lifetime commitment to those less fortunate than herself. 

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