T-R FILE PHOTO Despite sustaining damage in the tornado, especially to its bell tower, the House of Compassion, 211 W. Church St., has not had to cancel any of its services. It is looking for ways to raise the $200,000 needed to reopen its overnight emergency shelter.

Providing social services as a non-profit organization can sometimes feel like taking two steps forward and three steps back.

The House of Compassion, 211 W. Church Street, is in the process of working to reopen its overnight emergency shelter, as well continue to evaluate the over $90,000 in damage the building sustained in the July 19 tornado, much of it projected to be covered by insurance.

Board President Pam Strobbe said she has hopes, desires and goals for the operation moving forward.

“It’s like going through a rebirth in a lot of ways,” Board Vice President Ross Iverson said.

The HoC remained open following the tornado and continues to offer its supply closet and evening meals, which are served Sunday-Friday from 5 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Its board realizes, however, the community has felt the impact of the overnight emergency shelter being closed since February 2017 due to staffing issues and the need to renovate the space. No other such service exists in the area.

A sum of $200,000 is needed to renovate the building’s upstairs to make it habitable as an overnight shelter. HoC Director March Runner said around $50,000 of that has already been secured through grants and donations. To keep the shelter sustainable, however, the board will need an addition $225,000-275,000. The goal is to be able to have paid overnight monitors and not solely rely on volunteers.

“We don’t have any funding in yet for the operational expenses, but we have been writing grants,” Runner said.

Chuck Strobbe, who handles financing for the HoC, said the funds needed to operate the shelter fall outside its normal operating budget.

The tornado added another level of complication. Damage to the bell tower exceeds $68,000. The roof and gutters also will need to be replaced.

“We actually replaced the roof a couple of weeks before the tornado hit,” Runner said. “And now we need to do it again.”

While its insurance will likely cover the cost of most of the repairs, Runner has applied for additional grant money and FEMA aid as an extra layer of protection.

“We have to muddle through all these little things and try to get somebody to come make repairs,” Pam said. “It is hard because there is so much damage throughout the community and we have to wait our turn.”

The HoC was recently gifted two parcels of land from Tony R. Brink with Art Reed Farms, L.L.P. The two parcels are a 1/4-acre lot located off 14th St. and Emerald Dr. and a landlocked property along the Iowa River near the Marshalltown Water Works.

The 1/4-acre lot is currently on the market, and proceeds from the sale will go to help reopen the shelter.

“I really wish the shelter could have reopened this year because of the tornado — there is definitely a need for housing,” Pam said. “Since its been closed we did open it up for people impacted by the fire (at the Villager Apartments in May 2017).”

Now, the board is working on ways to boost community engagement.

“We are trying to improve our grant situation and donations,” Pam said. “We did a blanket mailing to the area churches and we are hoping to provide a new brochure and do a newsletter because a lot of people still don’t think we’re open — and we never closed.”

The HoC will host a trivia night fundraiser at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 8 at the Fisher Community Center. For more information, it may be reached at 641-752-5999.

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Contact Sara Jordan-Heintz at

641-753-6611 or

sjordan@timesrepublican.com