Friendship House Fayetteville had a groundbreaking ceremony for its cottages on the corner of Broadfoot Ave & Branson St. on July 10, at noon. The ceremony was attended by a distinguished lineup of speakers, beginning with a prayer by Reverend Chip Stapleton, Highland Presbyterian Church, followed by Andy Rind, ServiceSource Executive Vice President, Weyher Dawson, ServiceSource Board of Directors Member, Michael Brown, Friendship House Fayetteville Resident, Dr. Scott Cameron: Friendship House Fayetteville Chaplin, and Tara Hinton, Employment Source Director - Regional Philanthropy and Fundraising, and Jason Amorose, Employment Source Executive Director.
Friendship House Fayetteville is a planned living community that provides affordable integrated housing for young adults and “friend residents” with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This unique program offers a transformative experience for college students and young professionals in medical/healthcare/human service fields to serve as mentors. By providing affordable, integrated housing, Friendship House Fayetteville is poised to revolutionize how it supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
At the heart of Friendship House Fayetteville is a focus on table fellowship - a daily rhythm of eating, praying, and celebrating together. This faith-based community empowers friend residents to achieve sustainable employment and develop crucial independent living skills. Simultaneously, the students and professional mentors gain invaluable real-world experience and strengthen their empathy for individuals with special needs.
The impact of Friendship House extends far beyond its walls. Friend residents are supported in their journey towards independent living. At the same time, mentors cultivate a deeper understanding that will serve them well in their future healthcare, allied health, and human service careers. This innovative model demonstrates the power of intentional community to enrich the lives of all involved.
The ceremony marks a significant milestone for Employment Source, an affiliation of ServiceSourse, as they embark on their mission to provide exceptional service delivery to create meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Working hand-in-hand with Friendship House Fayetteville, the mission of Employment Source is clear - to deliver innovative and valued employment, training, rehabilitation, and support services that transform lives. Through their network of affiliated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, they leverage a nationwide network of resources and expertise to meet the diverse needs of government and commercial customers while creating pathways to competitive integrated employment.
For general inquiries, contact Employment Source at communityNC@employmentsource.org and to learn more about their organization, visit their website at http://employmentsource.org/

(The Friendship House groundbreaking ceremony brought members of the community together on July 10. Photo by Lisa Stevens)