Today we’d like to introduce you to Donna Howard.
Hi Donna , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In the summer of 2016, Maria Gamble and I tried to do ministry with our local church. After getting push back from the church, we decided to form our own nonprofit. In March of 2017 we received our official nonprofit status from the state. Not knowing where to start, we decided to help whoever needed help with whatever need they had. After a couple of years of trying to figure out exactly what we were supposed to be doing we noticed the majority of our clients were men trying to get back on their feet. In December of 2019 we were approached by a church that had a “mission wing” with 14 beds they let us use. After a year or so of having these beds, we focused on men and work. Our overnight program turned into a residential work program for men. After 4.5 years in this space, we learned our lease would not be renewed and we were left without a place to operate. In December of 2024, we were gifted a grant for $1.1 million dollars to purchase our new building, an old church. We are hoping to rezone this building to be able to house upwards of 29 men for the residential program. In March of 2025 we purchased a house for the men in our program. It is holds 7 men.
In addition to the residential work program we also have a program that helps obtain ID, birth certificates, drivers license and social security cards. We also help with resume classes, job search assistance and transportation to and from work. This program is for men, women & children.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being a grassroots nonprofit with no other nonprofit to look to, each step has been trial and error. Maria & I started this from the ground up. We both had full time jobs when we started and did Saved By Grace in the evenings and weekends from the trunks of our cars. It has not been smooth, but we have always figured it out with collaboration and hard work. Being a homeless service provider always create struggles, especially when it comes to the negative idea the public has about a homeless person. We always try to educate as we go.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We are a nonprofit that is focused on giving a hand up, rather than a hand out. We are known for our men’s residential work program. We are most proud of how far we have come since we founded Saved By Grace. We are just two women that have followed the call of God on our lives. Each day is different, but each day is a reward of faithfulness. What sets us apart from others is we go where the client is. If we need to go into the woods to find them, we will. We are boots on the ground. We sit with the broken. We are friends to the friendless. We love because HE first loved us. No matter what, we respond like Jesus did with love.
What’s next?
With our new building (the old church) we hope to rezone to allow for up to 29 men to stay here. It is our goal to have the residential work program here in the 15,000 sqft building and offer wrap around services, job training, trade training, etc.
Our building is about to undergo construction also. We were gifted a $1 million construction grant and we are excited for this!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.savedbygraceglynn.com
- Instagram: inc.savedbygraceglynn
- Facebook: Saved By Grace SE Georgia
