Blount County, TN

Our Blount County house is officially open!! Blount County cut the ribbon on their Isaiah 117 House on August 7, 2022!

Blount County Location Leader, Cindy Chandler’s Isaiah 117 House story:

I was called and blessed to teach elementary school age children for over 25 years and upon retirement in May of 2019, I knew I would need to find a place that would allow me to continue to invest and pour into children. In July of 2019 I had no idea the Isaiah 117 House existed or what it provided, but God provided an opportunity to learn when my husband Gary and I visited a lemonade stand in our Blount County Community. When I learned of the mission, I knew in my heart that this was the place I was being called to serve. As an educator, I had no idea that children sat in an office, cubicle, or conference room for days or weeks with no place to bathe or sleep. It was truly heartbreaking! My husband and I were never called to foster, but each school year we had 25-50 kids that we loved as our own. I started attending expansion meetings and volunteering when needed, and eventually became a member of the Local Advisory Team. Blount County broke ground on February 14, 2020, and the journey began. Ronda shared at our first team meeting that it was time to start looking for a Program Coordinator. Our LAT visited Greene County to tour their home. It was truly amazing, not so much about how beautiful it was, but the feeling of comfort, security, and love. Fast forward to May 2020, I accepted the position. It truly has been a journey through construction to completion! God has remained faithful for two years and I have no doubt he will continue! We are truly blessed to live in a community that has wrapped its arms around this mission and children of Blount and surrounding counties.

Special thanks to our community partners that helped with the opening of our Blount County house:

Special thanks to our community partners who said Yes to changing the way foster care begins! We are filled with gratitude by the support we received from our donors, Sock Buddies, Church Partners, Caregiving Volunteers, and those who partnered with items for the home. Each one of them said Yes to walking the journey with us and THANK YOU doesn’t seem to be enough. Blount Community Church stepped up and provided a gorgeous piece of land for us to build on. Chad Sunderland with Lamon and McDaniel made this home a reality by pouring his heart and soul into building a beautiful home for children on a very traumatic day.

ABC Supply, Accu-coat, Anderson Lumber, Beacon, Blevins Paint Center, Braden’s, Budget Blinds, Builders, First Source, Castone – Kent Everett, Closet Solutions, Compass HVAC, Connaster and Teffeteller, Dan VZ Construction, Durbin Drywall, Luis Esquivel, FES, Floor and Décor, Flynn Electric, Franco Masonry, FunMakers – Mike Maddux, H.T. Hackney, George Hamby Painting, T. Hatcher Concrete and Excavating, Gray Hodges, Home Depot – cabinets, JMG, Maryville City, Morristown Sprinkler, My Personal Landscaper – Morgan Carr, Courtney McGhee – Delta plumbing fixtures, Quinn Appliances, RC Roofing, Ryne’s Vacuum, Site One, SMR, Shawn and Sheila Smith, Bill Teffeteller Plumbing, Tindell’s – Jesse Ogle .Susie and Lance Vincent, White’s Marble Tops – countertops, Wholesale Supply, and Wilcock Brothers.