Those in the community needing a second chance in life are getting just that at Purpose of God Annex’s Project New Hope.

This is true for Keisha Little, a Washington resident, who is currently enrolled in the six-week program. Through the courses and training offered, Little hopes to stay focused and motivated, as well as gain some skills in professionalism to land a job in the near future, she said.

“It’s a blessing,” Little said. “When you don’t have hope, it’s just something to build you up so you can carry on.”

Little is one of about 20 participants in the program, and now, through a variety of community resources offered through a coalition of organizations that have partnered with Purpose of God Annex, the program may be a little more effective, according to Bishop Jones, founder of the Annex.

“To me, it’s important for the simple fact that we don’t send them spiraling back down in the same old place,” Jones said. “(The program) helps them build their self-esteem and hope.”

Convenant Church, which has a satellite campus at the old P.S. Jones Middle School, is one of several organizations that have partnered with the Annex. At the start of this year’s first offering of the program, the church gave the Annex use of several classrooms to host classes such as marketing and money management, communication skills, computer skills and grammar, giving participants opportunities to hone skills in interviewing, and ultimately, get jobs.

Other organizations partnering with the Annex include Ruth’s House Domestic Violence Shelter, Zion Shelter Kitchen, Department of Social Services and the Beaufort County Jail, to name a few. The organizations came together in January to assess each of their available resources and how to partner to offer a full range of services and programs to help those in need in the community.

So far, since the program restarted in January, Jones and his team have aided around one dozen participants in securing employment, which is attributed to the skills gained in the classes provided through the program.

“Now that (all our organizations) are communicating, we can assess what these people need and give a full circle of services in helping them get back on their feet,” Jones said.

Christie Selken, a member of Covenant’s satellite campus in Washington, has come onboard to teach the program’s grammar class. As someone who has a past of working in staffing, Selken sees great value in helping people who have a criminal background or trouble finding employment gain necessary skills to find employment and better their lives.

“My heart was to always try to help people who need second chances,” Selken said. “God does that for us so I believe in doing it for others. I think we should support people in our community and give them the skills they need so they can better their lives and find employment so they can support their families. I think it’s a valuable program because it does just that. Whether they’re filling out a job application, writing a resume or interviewing, grammar is so important in presenting themselves in a way that employers want to hire them. I’m really happy our church has partnered with Project New Hope and given me the opportunity to come here each week and do something I enjoy doing and hopefully, help people improve their lives.”

On March 17 at 6 p.m., Purpose of God Annex will host its 13^th annual fundraiser dinner at First Church of Christ in Washington, which will include a video presentation, testimony and a musical medley performed by children in the Annex’s youth program. Though the nonprofit receives funding, primarily from Juvenile Crime Prevention Council and some from United Way, the dinner is the biggest source of funding of the year. The proceeds of the dinner fund multiple facets of the organization’s programs.

For more information or to enroll in the program, call Purpose of God Annex at 252-974-1484. Project New Hope is hosted at the old P.S. Jones Middle School building, 230 E. Eighth Street in Washington.