Discover Hope finds a home

Robbie Robinson was fresh out of jail and looking for a new start when he first came to Newton in 2005. Trying to get a way from crime and the drug problems that had blighted his hometown of Waterloo, Robinson came to Newton hoping to find a new path. As Discover Hope, the faith based substance abuse counseling center Robinson founded, prepares to move into a their new home at 733 First Ave. E., the former site of the Bob Hawkins Photography Studio, Robinson’s outlook couldn’t be brighter.

“We’re constantly growing. We needed a new space and a bigger building,” Robinson said.

The move also comes just days before the Easter holiday. Robinson, a devout Christian, said the space represents a rebirth for Discover Hope, which had been occupying a temporary space at the Haven Vineyard Church in Newton.

“That’s going to be kind of our pitch, bringing new life into the community,” Robinson said. “This is a new transition — new beginnings.”

Plans for the new, 8,000-square-foot space includes creating an area for childcare, a conference room, offices, a computer lab and a bathroom. Robinson hopes to be able to be open to the public by July 9 with remodeling scheduled to begin next month. Robinson said he also wants to build a “gift shop” in the new building to offer Discover Hope merchandise to the public.

The $140,000 Discover Hope has already raised only represents the first step in their fundraising efforts. Robinson is hoping to raise a total of $360,000. The remainder of the money will go towards paying off the building and hiring some support staff for Robinson. The second phase of the fundraising campaign is scheduled to kick off next month, interested donors can use Discover Hope's website, at www.discoverhope517.org to make a donation.

A $3,000 grant from the Jasper County GEMS Foundation will help Discover Hope install a kitchen facility in their new space, something Robinson said is integral to the group’s operations.

“The kitchen became the biggest need because we feed people who come in everyday,” Robinson said. “It’s a great way for us to connect with the community and meet people in the community.”

The Jasper County GEMS is an organization of women who’ve banded together to collectively donate to local causes. Members each give $100 a quarter and then meet to decide the best way to disburse the funds. Founder Vicki Wade said the group wants to focus on projects that meet a specific need in the community.

“We also encourage them to prepare their proposal for a very specific need” Wade said. “I think it’s easier for individuals to wrap their minds around the idea that it’s going to something they can see.”

With more than 8,000 square feet, Robinson plans to set aside a fourth of the building for transitional housing. Providing that housing helps addicts stay out of the cycle of bad decisions and make positive changes.

“It’s hard to get housing without a job, and we want to create an environment where we can help them make a transition, so we can bring them back into the community,” Robinson said.

Robinson has already begun the process of working through the necessary hurdles with the City of Newton in order to be able to offer the housing. He’s hoping to have space to house 10 residents in the facility, a move he said will go a long way towards helping residents reintegrate themselves into the community.

Robinson said he feels blessed by the support he’s received from the community.

“To be able to buy a building and create all these different services in the community has been amazing,” Robinson said. We’ve just continued to grow and grow, I feel like God has been calling us to open this community center.”

With the support of the community behind Robinson, he said he’s convinced Discover Hope can offer addicts a path to change their lives for the better, something he’s seen in his own life. With almost 18 years of sobriety under his belt, Robinson said he realized once he got clean, he’d be able to help others find the same path.

“Restoration is all about being restored and living life again,” Robinson said. “We’re a family here, we’ll walk with you.”

In an interview last year, Discover Hope co-founder Aaron Groves, a lieutenant with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, said despite progress, there’s still a definite need in Newton for the services Discover Hope provides. While Groves has stepped back from the organization recently, he’s still incredibly proud of the work that Robinson has accomplished. Adding the residential services to what Discover Hope already offers will be a boon to the community, Groves said. He’s even hoping that it’ll give Newton a chance to burnish its reputation. Combating drug addiction helps lower crime, and makes Newton a safer place to live, Groves said.

“We want to rebrand Newton as a good place to live, and a good place for people to raise their families,” Groves said.

Contact David Dolmage at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or ddolmage@newtondailynews.com