New women’s shelter will provide a ‘Fresh Start’

ROSEVILLE — The Rev. Charles Winfield, of Fresh Start Ministries, became emotional when speaking to local media Aug. 12 regarding the new women’s shelter that will open on the church’s Roseville campus this fall.

“I wanted to help some people that were in the same situation that my mom ended up in. It’s going to be for battered women. We’re going to help those that we can. Some will come with their children, and some with no clothes,” Winfield said, tearing up a bit.

“It’s my desire, when they come like that, not only can we put a roof over their head, but clothes on their back. That’s my mission,” he said. “For three years, we’ve been working on the interior. Here we are today, and we’re grateful we’ve gotten to this point.”

As he spoke to news reporters, employees from Gardner-White Furniture delivered a number of bed frames, bunk beds and mattresses for the safehouse. With executive offices located in Warren, Gardner-White Furniture donated the furniture at no cost to Fresh Start Ministries.

The women’s shelter, which Winfield is calling a “safehouse,” has nine bedrooms and is scheduled to open Oct. 1. According to Winfield, the domestic violence survivors and their children will be referred from outside organizations with which Fresh Start Ministries has partnered, such as the Salvation Army. Fresh Start Ministries minister Tamika Lindsey will assist with the process. Lindsey is a domestic violence survivor and has volunteered with the emergency shelter Turning Point in Mount Clemens.

“What I’ve been through led me to outreach,” she said.

The goal is to have families stay 30-45 days as they get back on their feet. The safehouse is not a brand-new building and was already on the premises when the Fresh Start Ministries church opened.

Gardner-White Furniture sales associate Karen Mahone got the ball rolling with the donations. While at a meeting back in April, Mahone — who is a member of Fresh Start Ministries — approached Gardner-White Furniture President Rachel Tronstein about the safehouse. Tronstein immediately began making plans to have the bedroom furniture donated.

“She responded quickly,” said Sara Grasley, director of training at Gardner-White Furniture, who added that the company supports the community in many ways, including blood drives, food donations and Toys for Tots. “It’s amazing to see what that does for families. It goes to the depth of your heart and soul.”

Tronstein’s actions with the safehouse left Mahone “completely humbled.”

“Just asking the question is going to help so many women and children in the future,” Mahone said. “I’m so humbled and grateful. I was just overwhelmed at the time.”

When asked about how the safehouse will be taken care of financially, Winfield responded, “I’m grateful to God and to such a wonderful congregation.”

The safehouse is personal for Winfield, because he said that his father was abusive to his mother, Georgia Winfield. The pastor was one of five children and knows the struggles that his mom faced when she left his dad.

“My mom had to leave, and it wasn’t a pretty situation,” Winfield said. She landed on her feet, went to college, earned her master’s degree and became a teacher in Detroit Public Schools. Georgia Winfield died several years ago, and Winfield dedicated a room at the church in her honor.

According to Charles Winfield’s daughter, Tyra Godfrey, the room is used in a number of ways including Sunday school. She also said that her grandmother was “an advocate for education.”

Fresh Start Ministries also has an outreach program in which congregation members help those who are living on the streets.

“We go to the streets. We take food. We take sandwiches and different things,” Winfield said. “There are some people that need help. They have nowhere to go. If we can help with that need and bring some peace and some safety to a person, then I feel my life is a life of purpose.”

“He’s always had this heart that’s just big,” Godfrey said of her dad.

For more information on Fresh Start Ministries, call (586) 445-0009.