If there is one thing we have learned through the process of starting Three Rivers Respite, it is to be patient and embrace the waiting.
We have had lots of waiting throughout this process—waiting to purchase the property, waiting for the zoning and land use approvals, and still more waiting to work through the next steps. But, through it all, we have seen God’s faithfulness.
And we have some good news!
At the end of May, our zoning proposal was approved by the county to use our property for camp and as a future home to support young adults who age out of foster care. This was a huge step for us as it allows us to build and operate camp on our property.
Now we move on to the next step—the county site planning review process, which we have to complete before we can get permits to start building camp. This process will take 4-6 months. We have started that process and are working through the site planning review requirements.
Over the past six months, we have been busy with many updates. We have upgraded our logo slightly, with the bottom of the logo reflecting three rivers. We have also updated our merchandise with the new logo. (Check out on our online store.) We also released the video we created in October, which shows the vision and purpose of Three Rivers Respite. (This video is located on our homepage.)
We also need to begin the process of raising money to build the cabins and clubhouse. Our plans involve two small sleeping cabins and a separate clubhouse that will include the kitchen/dining area, bathrooms, and a large living room gathering area. We are working with an awesome architect (Trevor at TMD Architects) on the design and floor plan for the clubhouse and cabins.
Lastly, we have updated our website to better tell our story of why respite care is needed and how you can support foster care. We also updated the donations page to allow donations towards our various building projects and show the fundraising progress for each project. Once we begin to build the facilities, we will provide regular updates through our website, social media, and blog posts.
Check out our website updates and our video, and please like us and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We appreciate all the prayers, encouragement, and financial support. Thank you!
—Matt and Heather