Onward and homeward: Pledges and Planning Commission

Exciting things are happening as we work to bring the vision for Jeremiah Community to reality. 

FIRST

Our application to rezone 0 Wicklow Dr. to Planned Development-Residential will go before the City Planning Commission on July 10 at 6:30pm in Council Chambers. At this meeting, members of the public will have opportunity to weigh in. It would mean the world to us if you would be in the room that night. At most, please consider speaking on one or two of the key talking points. It is of utmost importance that Planning Commissioners understand why this community is not only for the benefit of unhoused neighbors, but for all who desire to live in a compassionate community. Each speaker will have 5 minutes. Comments can also be submitted in advance of the hearing to [email protected].

If you would like help preparing your remarks, our team will offer three opportunities to visit with us, ask questions and receive support.

       • Sunday, June 30 @ 12:30 pm, 1013 Princess Anne St. 

       • Tuesday July 2 @ 9 am, 1013 Princess Anne St. 

       • Monday, July 8 @ 5:30 pm (Virtual)

If none of these times are convenient, but you would like support crafting your comments, please e-mail [email protected]

SECOND

I am excited to share with you that Mary Jane O’Neill’s recent pledge of $250,000 has gotten us off to a great start with our major giving campaign! This gift comes with an inspiring challenge. She has asked that we raise an additional $250,000 in new commitments to match her initial gift. Once we achieve this goal, she will contribute another $250,000, bringing the total gift to an astounding $750,000! This challenge not only demonstrates Mary Jane’s commitment to the Jeremiah Community vision, but it also presents a unique opportunity for us to rally our community and maximize the impact of her generosity. We are confident that, with your continued support, we can rise to this challenge and build the Kingdom of God in Fredericksburg as it is in heaven. 

Many members of our community have been giving or pledging financial support to Jeremiah Community for a long-time. Without this support, we could not have come as far as we have. As the re-zoning process comes into focus, it is of utmost importance that we lock in the gifts that will be essential to carry us through the next stages of development (I.e. preparing the site for the homes that will eventually house our neighbors).

In the last year, we have introduced the vision for Jeremiah Community to many of you, answered your questions and asked you to consider how you might take part. NOW is the time to lay the foundation!

“I love the idea that the Jeremiah Community will provide permanent and safe housing for our homeless neighbors. I want to be a part of this amazing project proposed by the nine Micah churches.”

~ Mary Jane O’Neill

---

Help our neighbors beat the heat

Extreme summer temperatures are tough for everybody, but especially for unhoused neighbors, and for those who were formerly homeless but are now living in places without adequate air conditioning.

At Micah Ministries, we walk alongside our neighbors experiencing homelessness through every part of their journey. As temperatures creep up, the Hospitality Center becomes a refuge for people who have no shelter to get into the air conditioning and grab some bottles of water. When our neighbors move off the streets and into permanent housing, they are often moving into scattered-site apartments throughout the region, rented from private landlords. As Fredericksburg is full of historic buildings, the HVAC systems in converted units often leave something (or a lot) to be desired.

With temperatures this summer forecasted to be extreme, we need your help to keep our neighbors safe, hydrated, and cool.