Nonprofit converting old Turrell school campus into women’s recovery center

NEA Divine Intervention looking to impact lives with new facility

By the Times News Staff

www.theevenintimes.com

TURRELL — One nonprofit organization purchased an old building in hopes of expanding much-needed services.

NEA Divine Intervention said they plan to use the old Turrell school building for a women’s and children’s recovery program.

Nicole Hanners with NEA Divine Intervention said that this will fill a huge need.

“Everything just lined up perfectly so it’s been in our hearts to see a place where women and children can come and recover together,” Hanners said, “So many times when mothers want to recover, they have to find somebody to care for their children, they wind up in DHS custody.”

With newly acquired 17 acres of land, Hanners said the sky is the limit on what they can do.

“It can impact a lot of lives,” Hanners said, “There’s a daycare, a gym, there’s a shop, also an apartment where someone live on-site and manage the property.”

She also shares her reaction when they found out this was happening.

“I was overwhelmed. When you’re in addiction, it doesn’t just affect you, it affects the whole family,” Hanners said.

Hanners also said that the city of Turrell has been very receptive and they are excited to see what it will become.

“I look out at this yard, which is massive, and I see community picnics,” she said, “I see the moms and the dads that haven’t talked to their daughter in forever because of their addiction, and to see them be able to come in and those relationships be restored. This is just the beginning.”

There’s no timetable for when the building and recovery program will be up and running.

The organization plans to do some renovations and make sure both the building and land are in top shape.