Diakonos Inc.

Diakonos, Inc. was organized in Burnsville, NC in September 1988. The intention was to provide for the basic needs of homeless and impoverished persons. Gary and Patti West, founders of the organization, agreed that the basic necessities of life including nourishing food, safe shelter, freedom from abuse, and an opportunity to move towards self-reliance. In 1990, the organization moved to Statesville, NC to operate an emergency shelter, a winter shelter and a domestic violence shelter. Over the years, the programs have developed, expanded and changed to incorporate and address the needs of those individuals seeking assistance. The Open Door Clinic was born in 1993 and operated as a free medical/dental clinic until 2007. The Molly McKay Children's Program developed in 1998 and ran until 2008 when it was incorporated into the Boys and Girls Club. The Soup Kitchen came under the auspices of Diakonos in 1992 and today serves three meals per day, seven days per week. Today, a night shelter, emergency shelter/transitional housing, soup kitchen outreach program for the homeless mentally ill, nurse clinic, educational programs, therapeutic opportunities, services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault including safe shelter, victim advocacy with in the judicial system, hospital accompaniment, group and individual counseling are the primary services offered. The needs are great and the solutions are often difficult. We continue to work through a variety of avenues to creatively address the multitude of needs and walk with our residents to a more stable, productive place in their lives. Soup kitchen: Our kitchen is open twice daily to all in need. Additionally, we provide a breakfast for everybody in transitional housing and night shelters. The nutritious food provided is vital to the health of homeless children and adults and especially to persons who abuse alcohol and/or drugs who likely would not get adequate nutrition from any other source.