NEWS

'I am exhilarated with happiness right now' Alma's Beneficial House opens

John Irwin
Waynesboro Record Herald

A plan long in the making to better serve local students has come to fruition with the opening of Alma's Beneficial House, just in time for school to start. 

Close to 50 individuals, representing every area of involvement in the project, were full of emotion as the red ribbon was cut, officially opening the learning facility and tours of the colorful rooms of the house began.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Tuesday officially opening Alma's Beneficial House for the 2021-22 school year.

Sherri Sullivan, director of special education for the Waynesboro Area School District, said, “I am exhilarated with happiness right now, we have been waiting for this moment for a long time and with the help of everyone we did it. We have plans to bring our students with special needs here and teach them everyday living skills,” she explained.

Inside, it features a full kitchen, living room area with a smart board, a dining room, bathroom, laundry and bedroom, sun room and backyard area with a small fish pond, all of which are wheelchair accessible. 

WASHS senior Hailey Sheffler, center, is pictured here at Alma's Beneficial House along with her mother, Rikki Fultz, behind her. Also pictured from left are Dr. Tod Kline, WASD superintendent, Dr. Wendy Royer, WASD school board member, Dade Royer, Alma's House co-project manager, Aaron Taylor, director of special education & student services secondary, Nic Erickson, director of technology services, Sherri Sullivan, director of special education & student services elementary, Erica McDonald, supervisor of special education & Brian Shook representative for the Waynesboro beneficial fund.

In addition to existing curriculum, lessons taught at the house will include planning holiday celebrations, preparing meals, doing laundry, cleaning and all other housekeeping necessities, according to Sullivan. 

District officials closed on the 324 W. Fourth St. property in Waynesboro in November of 2019, and it has since been undergoing renovations. 

The large kitchen and dining room area has been opened up by removing an interior wall to expand the open concept of the house making it wheelchair accessible.

According to WASD Superintendent Dr. Tod Kline, the district purchased the property for $128,000 before closing costs with no use of taxpayer funds.

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On Tuesday, district officials said that the 1,500-square-foot house needed close to $35,000 in renovations, including accessibility upgrades and cosmetic upgrades, most of which were donated or discounted to make it ready to use for the 2021-22 school year. 

The living room area at Alma's Beneficial House features modern decor and plenty of seating.

Ein Urey of Temperature Matters LLC, a Waynesboro heating and air conditioning company, is one of the many contractors who donated their time and effort to further the vision of the district in making the house a reality. "It's amazing being able to give back to the community, that's what we're all about," Urey said. 

In addition to the home, the district was also able to purchase an accessibility van to transport students to and from Alma's House, which is located under a mile from the Waynesboro Area Senior High School. 

This plaque naming those individuals and organizations that helped make Alma's Beneficial House come to fruition will be displayed inside the facility.

“Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this, it really takes a community to put this together; and this is another sign of how our community has come together," Kline said. "I hope as we continue down the road that we will always have support of the house and its mission for our students," Sullivan added.