Community Corner
Wellspring Treasures Gives Girls Hope
The Kennesaw store features furniture, home decor, clothing, and accessories in an effort to confront childhood sexual abuse and trafficking.
It's hard to believe that it's happening in our own neighborhoods—the exploitation of young girls who are victims of childhood sexual abuse and trafficking.
It's not just a problem in downtown Atlanta, but it has spread to the suburbs. Now a Kennesaw store is making a difference in the lives of those girls seeking hope and an escape from such a plight.
Wellspring Treasures opened in January in Town Center Plaza, next to Marshall's, at 425 Ernest Barrett Parkway. Since then, its donation base has grown, as have its volunteers, according to store manager Cindy Isgette.
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"We try to heal the mind, body, and soul of these girls and young women," said Isgette, who has 60 volunteers man the store, mostly coming from churches and community organizations.
Wellspring Treasures, an 8,000-square-foot facility, is the retail portion of Wellspring Living, a restoration program with two homes in Atlanta—one for girls ages 12-17 and the other for adult women. They provide counseling, group therapy, education, life skills, vocational training, and family reunification, as well as spiritual care.
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"Working at our store directly impacts the lives of these girls and their restoration process," said Isgette, who said she came to Wellspring Treasures out of a passion for working with girls and an extensive retail background.
Wellspring Living was founded by Mary Frances Bowley and enjoys an 84 percent success rate with girls, said Isgette, adding they can only help 28 girls currently with housing in metro-Atlanta. "That's why we want the store to be successful—so we can open more homes to these girls," said Isgette.
Wellspring Treasures, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, also gets gently-used clothing and furnishings from churches who have donation drives for their members. North Metro Church in Kennesaw has one this weekend, she added.
One store volunteer stated, "I've been looking for a way I can be involved in making a difference in the issue of child sex trafficking—this is the perfect option for me."
Store hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday. Free pick-up for furniture is available on Saturdays. For more information, visit www.wellspringliving.org or call 770-423-9890.