GotFaith? Ministries’ new location hosts open-house
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By Caitlin R. King
Carissa Sitki/Jersey County Journal
The “Kramunchkin Room” in the GotFaith? building is intended to be a space for socializing, according to GotFaith founder Steve Pegram. Pictured sitting at a table chatting, from left to right: Gene Newberry, Pegram, Randy Newberry, and Sam Newberry.
Caitlin R. King/Jersey County Journal
GotFaith?’s Steve Pegram (left) chats with former building owner Colette Miller (right) in the doorway of the food pantry, “Diane’s Pantry.” Miller and her husband, Lyn, donated their long-closed retirement home to the ministry.
For the last fifteen years, Steve Pegram has led GotFaith? Ministries with the mission to help the people of Jersey County. Pegram and other volunteers have worked to grow the ministry and explore ways to help people in need. After a generous donation of the old West Pine Retirement Village building by its owners Colette and Lyn Miller, Pegram and volunteers were finally able to expand like they had always wanted to.
After major renovations and building updates, Pegram hosted an open house on Thursday, March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, to introduce the new space and its resources to the people of Jersey County.
GotFaith?’s most established program they offer is their food pantry. Located on the eastern portion of the complex, the food pantry’s door is painted bright green in honor of Diane Stumpe, an active volunteer who passed away last July. The pantry is also named in her honor: “Diane’s Pantry.” Before working with GotFaith?, Stumpe ran her own charity, Christian Co-op, to aid victims of the Great Flood of 1993.
Pegram thinks of Stumpe “as a mentor” to him and she had a major influence in his decision to run GotFaith?. Diane’s Pantry is open to those in need and offers a variety of non-perishable groceries and personal toiletries.
Along with Diane’s pantry, GotFaith? hopes to host cooked meals for people and has plans to make the larger dining space available for rent, with the proceeds benefiting the ministry. GotFaith? also runs “Martha’s Closet” in the western part of the complex. The shop is named in honor of Martha Harpstrite, longtime fine arts teacher in the Jersey Community School District #100. Marked with a bright pink door, Martha’s Closet provides clothes and accessories for all ages, along with toys, games, books and other household items. For the items at Martha’s Closet, Pegram just asks for a small donation for each item picked, and if anyone is unable to pay, he asks that they donate their time to the shop. A beauty shop and massages are also available for those in need.
Pegram’s overall hope with the new location is that it can be a place for the people of Jersey County to come together. He envisions the building’s “Kramunchkin Room,” as the perfect spot for socializing.
“It’s for the people that get together and go to McDonald’s and play cards and drink their coffee. We have room for them to come here to spend time with each other,” Pegram said.
GotFaith? Ministry’s new building is located at 508 West Pine Street in Jerseyville. More information regarding events and resources available can be found on their Facebook page, facebook.com/gotfaith.jerseycounty.
