WILMINGTON — A church is taking steps to help those trying to take their steps to a better life.

In January, the Church of God in Wilmington broke the concrete to install plumbing in what will become the transitional housing for women and children called Summer’s Home.

Their website (wilcog.com) states they’ll reconfigure their hospice building to accommodate a “small efficiency apartment and offer ministry/classroom space.” In the future, they hope to add trailers and expand the housing option for “women/children to get back on their feet.”

Angel Boll, co-pastor of the church at 100 R. Gordon Drive with her husband, Rich, said the building on the church’s property used to be a radio station and a hospice, respectively. They saw the transformation of the building as another community outreach opportunity they started last January.

“We realize there are a lot of reasons why people are homeless,” said Angel.

One of those reasons is that certain housing or work opportunities require people to move which they aren’t able to do immediately.

The name of the apartment is named after Summer Joy Propes who attended the church.

“She had a heart for people,” said Angel. “She had a big heart for women and children in need.”

Propes passed away in 2017 at the age of 29. Another Summer’s Home was built in Thailand and the one being built in Wilmington will be the first in the states, though it’s still several months from completion.

“It’s still in the air with issues we had with COVID and supplies and such,” said Angel. “We’ve got the plumbing and hopefully it’ll be done in a couple of months if it goes smoothly.”

If you wish to contribute or help with the project, visit the church’s website — wilcog.com/give — and donating under the Summer’s Home fund.