South Memphis ‘Home for the Incurables’ may have cure for what ails it

Summary

This heartwarming story from South Memphis reveals a beautiful transformation taking place at an abandoned nursing home, once known as the home for the incurables. Brought back to life by the efforts of two passionate nonprofits, the site is being transformed into a drug and alcohol treatment center. The drive is led by Vena Kimbro, an urban renewal specialist, and Ben and Jess Owen of the 'We Fight Monsters' nonprofit, who are united by a shared vision of restoration and hope for addicts. With countless volunteers from across the country joining hands to clean and restore the site and its surrounding property, the initiative is bringing new beginnings to a community that was once one of the most neglected areas in the country. Through the endeavors of these visionaries, the neighborhood is witnessing a new dawn, signifying an empowering step in battling addiction in the heart of South Memphis. 🌟

Highlights

• Two nonprofits have united to transform an abandoned nursing home into a vibrant treatment center. 🏗️
• Vena Kimbro, an attorney and urban renewal specialist, spearheads the revitalization efforts. 🌱
• 'We Fight Monsters,' led by Ben and Jess Owen, brings personal stories of recovery and hope to the initiative. ❤️
• Volunteers from 14 states participated in the cleanup, emphasizing nationwide commitment to change. 🌍
• The center will serve as a beacon of change in South Memphis, addressing addiction in its core. 🔄

Key Takeaways

• A long-abandoned nursing home in South Memphis is getting a new life as a drug and alcohol treatment center. 🌟
• The initiative is driven by the nonprofits 'We Fight Monsters' and Vena Kimbro, focused on community renewal and addiction recovery. 💪
• The movement attracts volunteers nationwide, showcasing a united effort in fighting addiction and restoring hope. 🤝
• The center's transformation aims to empower one of America's most impoverished and violent zip codes. 🏙️
• Upcoming cleanup events invite public participation to bolster the center's renovation efforts. 📅

Overview

Once a shelter for those with incurable diseases, the long-abandoned South Memphis nursing home is undergoing a significant transformation into a beacon of hope. Thanks to the passionate efforts of dedicated nonprofits, this massive 76,000 square-foot establishment is being repurposed as a rehabilitation center for drug and alcohol addiction. This inspiring endeavor is a testament to the power of community spirit and commitment to change. 🏥

At the helm of this revolutionary project is Vena Kimbro, a Memphis attorney with a heart for urban renewal, who sees potential where others saw decay. Alongside Ben and Jess Owen of 'We Fight Monsters,' a nonprofit born from their own recovery journey, the team is turning vision into reality. They are creating a sanctuary for healing in one of America’s most challenged communities, demonstrating the profound impact of compassion and resilience. 💪

Volunteers from across the United States have flocked to South Memphis, eager to contribute to this historic revitalization effort. With cleanup operations drawing support from far and wide, the upcoming events promise to rally even more community involvement. In transforming this once-abandoned site, the project symbolizes new beginnings, proving that with unity and purpose, even the most forgotten places can experience rebirth and revival. 🌈

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction to the Story The chapter introduces a heartfelt story written by Joe about a long-abandoned nursing home in South Memphis formerly known as the 'home for the incurables'. The story reveals that two nonprofits have joined forces to transform the facility into a drug and alcohol treatment center, strategically located in the heart of an area plagued by drug issues. This introductory chapter sets the stage for an inspiring tale of renovation and community aid.
• 00:30 - 01:30: History of the Home for the Incurables 1467 East Mclamore, a home for incurables, has fallen into neglect and ruin, spanning 76,000 square feet of decay.
• 01:30 - 02:00: Vena Bser Kimbro's Vision for Renewal Vena Bser Kimbro acquired an asset in South Memphis recognizing the need for additional resources in the area. The location served as a home for people with conditions like cerebral palsy and MS from 1908 until 2003. The King's Daughters and Sons Home moved to a new center, leaving behind a valuable property in need of preservation. Kimbro was committed to finding the best way to maintain and revitalize this historical site.
• 02:00 - 02:30: The Role of We Fight Monsters This chapter discusses the transformation of the South Memphis campus into a community nursing home with the assistance of 'We Fight Monsters,' a group led by Ben and Jess Owen. The couple themselves overcome homelessness and addiction and are committed to helping others who are in similar situations, fulfilling a promise they made during their struggles.
• 02:30 - 04:00: Stories of Transformation and Recovery In this chapter titled 'Stories of Transformation and Recovery,' the focus is on the couple running the 'We Fight Monsters' nonprofit. Last year, they fulfilled their vow to help others by returning to Memphis. They purchased and renovated former crack houses and a brothel, turning them into safe havens. These properties, located on Melrose off of Mclamore, are now homes for recovering addicts and women liberated from the sex trade. The organization employs recovering addicts to assist in the renovation projects, embodying their mission of helping others recover and find new paths in life.
• 04:00 - 05:30: The Community Effort and Support The chapter titled "The Community Effort and Support" describes a heartfelt initiative where individuals who have been supported by the organization "We Fight Monsters" come together to give back. It highlights the emotional fulfillment and unity experienced by both the helpers and the helped. On a Saturday, volunteers gathered from Memphis and across America to assist in cleaning efforts, illustrating the power of community support and collective action.
• 05:30 - 06:30: Call to Action and Conclusion In this chapter, the speaker discusses their experience with long-term drug use and the transformation they underwent to overcome it. They reflect on their time working in rehabilitation and the importance of community during recovery. The speaker emphasizes the role of faith and a supportive environment at 'we bu monsters' in helping them transition away from drugs and rebuild their life.

South Memphis ‘Home for the Incurables’ may have cure for what ails it Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 new at 6 this is a story Joe just told me he wrote from his heart so you know it's going to be good listen it's about a long abandoned South Memphis nursing home once known as the home for the incurables well it may have a new lease on life indeed two nonprofits have United to help turn the place into a drug and alcohol treatment center right smack dab in the middle of the drug track in South [Music] Memphis every window looks like this one at the Old Kings daughters and sons home
• 00:30 - 01:00 for the incurables at 1467 East mclamore it's 76,000 square fet of neglect Decay and ruin it was um dilapidated a Nur had been abandoned for several years Vena bser Kimbro Memphis attorney and urban renewal specialist bought the place anyway at that time uh 38126 was the greatest need community in all of the
• 01:00 - 01:30 country when I acquired their asset and uh I just knew that South Memphis needed some additional resources starting in 1908 and then for 95 years this place became home for people suffering from cerebal paly Ms and a host of other so-called incurable conditions the king's daughters and sons home left here in 2003 moving to a new modern Center on Appling Road in Bartlett so it's a jewel that needed to be preserved Kim BR searched high and low for years to find
• 01:30 - 02:00 the right Community Partners to turn the South Memphis campus back into a community nursing home then came an army of helpers called we fight monsters led by a married couple Ben and Jess Owen we were homeless and addicted out here and we used to pray a prayer which we've talked about with you before that if God got us out of that hell we'd come back for everybody who left behind we introduced you to Ben and Jess Owen their mugshot history and they a ounding rebound via
• 02:00 - 02:30 their we fight monsters nonprofit last year the couple kept their prayerful promise to return to Memphis and serve those still suffering they purchased the very same crack houses and a former brothel where they bought sold and used drugs on the dead end of Melrose right off of mclamore and then hired recovering addicts to restore the homes and welcomed recovered addicts and women who had been freed from the sex trade to live here that's our heart today we
• 02:30 - 03:00 you're back here coming back for the people we left behind in Act of addiction or just fighting the fight out here on these streets and uh we're going to do everything we can to change them our heart is so full right now like this is just it's just full this is amazing on a recent Saturday dozens of people who've been helped by we fight monsters in Memphis and across America Chain Saw and swept and loaded one1 dumpster after
• 03:00 - 03:30 another to clean up the long abandoned home for the incurables grounds I was doing milk uh haon fol crack and I did those RS for like 16 years 16 years and I haven't found a better treatment place than ref fight monsters there is if you look around it's family I've done every drug there is um and God has literally transformed my life and brought me away from that and we bu monsters is a is a huge part
• 03:30 - 04:00 of that Ben and Jess are incredible human beings um and I just the things in the life that I have today I just want to give back Ben and Jessica gave me a call and said hey we're doing this we got this uh huge building and we want to turn it into a treatment center and we want you to come help us clean it up I said I'm there Jenny Burton came all the way from Washington State and a 30-year life of drugs and mug shots while I was a drug addict I used to say it took a lot of money look like this now Burton
• 04:00 - 04:30 has graduated into a woman dedicated to helping others she goes inside Washington state prisons to teach a re-entry program and I've been clean for more than 12 years and U my 100% my mission is is to help people like me get up and out of where they're at Via social media the we fight monsters Mission attracted people from 14 States for this clean up including Steve Williams and his wife from Washington DC we have uh children that are addicts and
• 04:30 - 05:00 and one specifically that's a fentanyl abuser and lost on the streets in the tenderland in San Francisco for the last four years so uh it's uh helpful to come out and do something besides write checks help out and actually physically get involved and meet all the people that uh been and Jessica have helped over the years the we fight monsters properties on the dead end of Melrose adjoin the old King's Daughters in Suns campus as our drone images show they're neighbors it was the King's Daughter son's home for the incurables and we're
• 05:00 - 05:30 fighting an incurable disease addiction and so it's the fact that it butts up right to our block is perfect but the name the history I think everything it's all God ordained I don't believe in chance or happen stance and you know it's all designed uh he read my vision and Mission on our website and I read his and we knew that the purpose and Mission had been married and I just can't think of a better place to do this were in in one of the most impoverished
• 05:30 - 06:00 and and violent ZIP codes in America and it's ready for something different amen what better cost and to save our community to save our citizens to save our families so if you want to help the next cleanup at 1467 East M lore will be Saturday April 19th for now Miss Kim brro and we fight monsters are looking for financial support for their major South Memphis renovation you can help through a link to weight monsters. org
• 06:00 - 06:30 with many more details on this story at actionnews.com