Aldersgate opens fifth house for special needs adults
By Jessica Brodie
COLUMBIA—Another house to help special needs adults live independently is now ready for operation in South Carolina.
On Sept. 13, supporters of Aldersgate Special Needs Ministry gathered for a dedication ceremony at Tommy’s House, a home that will accommodate four men with special needs.
Tommy’s House, located in the Coldstream area of Columbia near Irmo, was purchased in the spring and will be the fifth house operated by the United Methodist ministry.
“We feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to serve more people with special needs,” said Kim Thomas, Aldersgate executive director. “God has truly blessed our ministry.”
They hope to have residents move into the new home by November.
The Rev. Stephen Taylor, senior pastor of Union United Methodist Church in Irmo, officiated the ceremony, attended by supporters and Aldersgate families all excited about the newest endeavor.
The four other Aldersgate homes for adults with special needs are The Oaks, in Orangeburg at The Oaks, which accommodates six men; Columbia Builder’s Care Home, in Columbia near Epworth Children’s Home, which accommodates six women; Rick’s House, at The Manor in Florence, which accommodates four men; and Sunshine House, also at The Manor, which broke ground in March and will accommodate four men.
Thomas said there is a vast need for homes for people with special needs in South Carolina, particularly as their caregivers—typically parents—age.
Enabling these men and women to have a Christian home where they can live relatively independently can be a huge relief for these families.
Aldersgate’s mission to provide quality homes in a Christian environment for people with special needs that enables them to be as independent as possible.
To learn more about Aldersgate, visit https://www.aldersgatesnm.org