On August 13, 2011, one hundred and sixty people gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting and dedication of the Lighthouse & Pat and Pete Schenkel Family Living Homes on the Arms of Hope – Medina Campus. The ceremony was facilitated by Kevin McDonald, Arms of Hope President and CEO. Troy Robertson, Medina Campus Minister, gave the invocation. Curtis Bedrich, Chairman of the Board, gave an expression of gratitude for the generosity of the donors who participated in the building of these facilities. Bruce Barnard and Bruce Lee then addressed the crowd of 160. Next, they gathered behind the ribbon and were joined by family, Arms of Hope board members and Senior Management where Julia Barnard and Rhonda Lee completed the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon. A benediction was given by Don Crisp, Arms of Hope Board Member. The guests then toured one of furnished Family Living Homes apartments and enjoyed a reception that was held in the breezeway joining the two new Family Living Homes facilities. Guests were also invited to tour the nearby chapel that is currently under construction where they wrote scriptures and blessings on the walls that will soon be encapsulated. The chapel is scheduled for completion later this year. Each of the two Family Living Homes consists of four, three bedroom apartments. Each apartment is 1,275 square feet and 5,100 square feet per Family Living Homes facility. There is an additional 1,380 square feet of covered connecting breezeway, equaling 11,580 square feet under one roof. The new structures were primarily funded by special friends of Arms of Hope, Bruce & Julia Barnard, Bruce & Rhonda Lee, and Pat & Pete Schenkel, in addition to significant gifts from the Ed Rachal Foundation and Arms of Hope donors who participated in the "Double Your Difference Matching Campaign". The new Family Living Homes eight apartment units will be occupied by single-mother families who are active participants in the Arms of Hope Together Program. The Together Program helps motivated single mothers and their children transition into successful, independent futures by providing parenting skills, career training and a home in a peaceful and safe environment. Families in this program are fleeing homelessness, poverty, hunger and abuse. Arms of Hope was blessed to obtain a discounted rate from Rick’s Furniture in Kerrville to furnish one of three bedroom apartments. Ricks has agreed to offer a discounted rate of $3,300 per apartment for supporters who wish to help Arms of Hope by furnishing the remaining seven units. Arms of Hope residents will begin populating these new residences in September 2011. Arms of Hope is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that was formed as a result of the consolidation of Boles Children’s Home (est. 1924) and Medina Children’s Home (est. 1958). Both homes had identical missions and programs and united o achieve efficiency, geographic diversity, increased capacity and additional improvements and offerings.