ELIZABETHTON, TN (WJHL)- A local nonprofit aimed at helping kids entering foster care is now looking to expand.

The Isaiah 117 House opened in Elizabethton in June. Before this house, children taken from their families in to state custody would have to wait at the Department of Children’s Services officers until their caseworker found a foster family placement for them. But now, instead of going to the DCS office, the kids can come to a welcoming home environment run by volunteers. Thanks to community donations, when the kids come to the house they have the option to take a bath, eat, get school supplies, clean clothes, and anything else they might need.

Founder Ronda Paulson said God gave her the dream for this house. Since then the community has rallied around that dream, raising more than enough money to make it happen. Community donations and volunteers completely renovated the home, and fully stocked it with supplies, clothes, and food. Almost exactly a year after announcing the idea, the house is up and running.

Since the home opened in June, Paulson said it is helping reduce trauma, helping DCS, and helping foster parents by easing the transition in to their next home.

“When you have four kids one week and seven kids one week and then DCS tells you that it’s slow right now because kids are out for summer and it will pick up in the fall, and that’s when you realize there has to be more than one (house),” Paulson said.

Paulson said they are now hoping to raise $75,000 to open an Isaiah 117 House in Limestone. The house would serve Washington and Greene Counties.

“I really believe that because of the generosity of this community and because of their love for these children we are ready to start looking at a second location,” Paulson said. She said she hopes to open the second location by 2020.

Paulson said her dream is to have one house to serve each region in the state.

If you would like to get involved you can visit http://www.isaiah117house.com/.

And her dream may even spread across the country. She said groups from other states have contacted Paulson wanting to start something similar where they live.

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