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SALUDA–The Saluda United Methodist Church will host an open house at the Camille Alexander Home, which will be used by Crossnore Communities for Children. The open house will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 10, at 150 Greenville Street in Saluda. The community is invited to tour the renovated facility.

The church partnered with local community organizations to provide housing for foster children, purchasing a house that once belonged to Saluda resident Camille Alexander. When Alexander died in December 2021, her friends in the church knew she wanted her home to become a place of value to the community.     

Due to a lack of foster homes in Polk County, many forces came together and the church bought the property with the help of committed citizens offering financial resources and the United Methodist Foundation of Western North Carolina who provided the mortgage. Crossnore Communities for Children agreed to establish a Professional Foster Care Home at the newly acquired house next to the church.       

The house was built in the 1920s and, although it had been maintained, updates were needed. Those interested in touring the revamped home are invited to attend the open house.

If you are interested in learning more about this joint effort of the Saluda United Methodist Church and the community organizations that helped make this dream a reality, email saludaumc@gmail.com.