Samaritan Inn : 'It's a lot of work, but it's a good cause.'

LEESBURG -- Sweat poured from their faces in Tuesday's morning heat as Chester Wood and a crew of volunteers painted the exterior and individual rooms of the Samaritan Inn, the former Big Bass Motel that will become a shelter for homeless families.

"We've got to move ahead," said Wood, project manager. "There are people out here who need a place to live and need to have help to get their lives put back together."

The first family is expected to move in later this month, he said. Once the inn is renovated, it will provide temporary shelter for 20 families.

First Baptist Church of Leesburg purchased the former motel on U.S. 27 near the Main Street intersection last summer for $550,000. The church made a $100,000 down payment and monthly payments on the 20-year note are $3,300.

The church's Christian Care Center -- a stand-alone nonprofit -- will operate Samaritan Inn.

"Some of the funding didn't come through and with the economy the way it is, donations are down," Wood said.

Renovation on the 1954 inn started with the southern wing. New plumbing, electrical wiring and air conditioning has been installed and the wing has been repainted. The northern wing will be done as money comes in.

"The costs were more than anticipated and the shortfall of revenue has been a real challenge, trying to get a lot done with a little," Wood said.

Yet, he is grateful for the support from volunteers from different denominations -- Catholics, Protestants and Jewish -- who have turned out to provide free labor.

"That has been a blessing," Wood said.

During the month of April, volunteers donated 3,000 hours of their time.

St. Timothy's Catholic Church in The Villages has been actively involved and also helps the inn with its mortgage payments, he said.

"This is giving people a place to stay that is nice and safe," said Sam Gervase of St. Timothy's. "They deserve that. It's a lot of work, but it's a good cause."

"This is part of our outreach mission and it helps the local community," added Stan Powell, one of several volunteers from Lake Square Presbyterian Church. He praised First Baptist Church of Leesburg for serving the homeless.

"They're helping people and so we're helping them to help people," he said.

Larry Eidelberg of Temple Shalom has been committed to the project since day one.

"I think everybody should join together to help as one, to help the needy, especially families that can't make it," he said.

"We're committed to helping Samaritan Inn financially and spiritually," added Kay Visconti, from the Lake Square Presbyterian Church, who was joined by her husband, Joe. "It's just a great feeling to know that we are out here helping."

First Baptist Church Leesburg will host a community-wide yard sale, beginning at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, to help support the project. Residents wanting to help can donate items for the sale.

Samaritan Inn also will host an open house and volunteer appreciation event at 10 a.m. on June 19, Wood said. One unit of the inn will be open for guests to tour.

For information about Samaritan Inn, visit Samaritan-inn.org, or call Frank Standfield at 352-425-0940.

To volunteer, send an e-mail to Wood at chesterwood@fbcleesburg.org.

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