Healing Shattered Dreams — Part 2
This is the second part of a two-part special report. See Part 1 here.
JACKSON, Tenn. — The Dream Center is a nonprofit, faith-based facility for women and children who find themselves in a crisis situation. Nearly a year ago, they were facing a crisis of their own, but thanks to generous donations from the community, they continue to be a beacon of hope for families in need.
“We were in the old Regional Hospital building for 13 years,” said Gail Gustafson, director of The Dream Center. “Those people that owned it made a business decision. They sold the building and we had to leave.”
She said she had to find shelter for dozens of families — and quickly.
“That was in August when they told us, and we needed to be out by Dec. 1, and Nov. 15 we had no idea what we were going to do. In the meantime, we found housing for 45 families,” Gustafson said.
She said having shelter for the families was just the beginning.
“We moved in this building at the end of November of last year, and they have ever been so kindly donated to us, the houses and the office,” Gustafson said.
She said there is a real need to help women and children spiritually, physically and emotionally.
“We serve approximately 30 to 40 women and children every month, and training them, and they’re allowed to come to classes here,” Gustafson said. “First of all, we teach about Christ, ’cause this is his business, his house, and he rules the house.”
For Pamela Styles, a former resident at The Dream Center, her past life of substance abuse led her to become assistant director at the center.
“If someone had told me that I’d be helping other women, I would have told them they were crazy, but now that’s exactly what I’m doing,” Styles said.
She was not the only member of the support team at The Dream Center whose past is now helping women who have been abused.
“I was molested in the second grade by a neighbor, repeatedly, over and over,” Gustafson said. “My past is what gives me the relationship with these ladies.”
Because The Dream Center helps so many families, Gustafson said they are now looking to the future with the donation of a piece of land to build a much larger facility.
“We are excited,” Gustafson said. “I want to see us breaking ground by August.”
Women who need help can call The Dream Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 731-512-0095.
If you would like to find out more about The Dream Center and how you can you help it to continue its ministry, you can visit their website at dreamcenterjackson.com.
In case you missed it, you can see Part 1 of this special report here.
