(KENT, WA) September 21, 2021 - FASTSIGNS® of Kent, WA - Southcenter, a locally-owned and operated sign and graphics company, recently had the pleasure of creating window graphics for the NU2U Thrift Store, one of the many arms of the faith-based treatment facility, Praisealujah. This is the second NU2U location where FASTSIGNS, owned by Gina Spiller, designed and installed an eye-catching visual communication solution. FASTSIGNS® of Kent, WA - Southcenter is an OMWBE certified woman and minority-owned small business and has operated in the Kent/Southcenter area since 1992.
The story behind this organization began in 2007, when founder, Schwanda Taylor, came out of a life of drugs and was in a faith-based treatment facility. While there, she met her husband, Kelly, who was running the men’s program. Schwanda and Kelly married, and soon after, Kelly was ordained as a pastor.
After this, Kelly returned to the Des Moines area, because he wanted to help others make positive changes in their own lives. Kelly and Schwanda found a house near Des Moines Memorial Drive that had two adjacent buildings, where they opened two rehab houses, one for women and one for men. It truly grew from there, and they’ve been adding a house about once a year. During the COVID pandemic, they were managing ten houses, and they also moved into a home base for their office.
Kelly is talented at managing resources and talking to grocery stores to build accounts to donate the food for the people living at their houses. Their food ministry grew enormously once they had a warehouse. Today, they not only feed the people in their program but also contribute to other organizations including churches, ministries, homeless organizations, or anyone who wants to serve communities in need.
Because they receive many clothing donations and more, they decided to open a thrift store. One of their main reasons for doing this was to help the men and women in their rehab facility build their resumes. By providing them a work opportunity, they help with on-the job training for people who have never had that experience. All funds from the store funnel directly back into the ministry. Since the team sends out six trucks a day to pick up food or things for the Thrift Store, the gas alone is a financial need for this organization.
The Praisealujah Discipleship program currently houses approximately 90-100 men, 20-23 women and 5 children. Praisealujah is a Faith-Based Treatment facility that is not state funded. This program is designed to assist men and women struggling with opioid, fentanyl and other substance abuse along with other life-controlling situations and circumstances. The Praisealujah Discipleship is a facility protected environment that gives men and women an opportunity to separate themselves from destructive behaviors and gain a focus on who God is and what plan He has for their lives. The intensive one-year program consists of three phases to create a whole. All phases are fully supervised, live-in residence with the primary goal of individuals transitioning back into their community, not just as a functioning member of society, but as a new creation, leading a victorious life through Christ, in service to others.
“Our main purpose is to introduce men and women to Christ and then get them delivered from drugs and build their resumes,” said Schwanda Taylor, Co-Founder. “ We have a 100% recidivism rate. We walk alongside these people as they build a new life, and everyone finds a job after the program is complete.”
The program consists of learning time management, participating in chores and being educated in a curriculum that is Bible-based, with sermons, writing assignments, life applications and memory work that includes the armor of God.
“As two people who have also been down the same road and had the opportunity to go through a program similar to Praisealujah, my husband and I believe there is a great need for more discipleship programs like this,” said Schwanda Taylor.
To learn more about The Praisealujah Discipleship program or how you can help, visit the link here.
About FASTSIGNS
FASTSIGNS® of Kent, WA - Southcenter is a locally and independently owned and operated sign, graphics and visual communications company that provides comprehensive visual marketing solutions to customers of all sizes—across all industries—to help them attract more attention, communicate their message, sell more products, help visitors find their way and extend their branding across all of their customer touchpoints including décor, events, wearables, digital signage and marketing materials. To learn more, visitfastsigns.com/157 or call (206) 207-4852.