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Official Newsletter of Restoration House, Inc.
THE RESTORATION REPORT
May – June 2026 | Volume 1, Issue 1
Equipping returning citizens with the housing, tools, and spiritual foundation for a new life.
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ourrestorationhouse.org
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(618) 200-5624
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info@ourrestorationhouse.org
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In This Issue
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› Letter from the President
› Resident of the Month
› Money Matters
› Healthy & Whole
› Spiritual Anchors
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› Life Skills Spotlight
› Partner Spotlight
› Volunteer & Giving Opportunities
› Upcoming Events & What’s Next
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Section 1
A Letter from the President
From the desk of Yvonne Shelton, MSW, ND — President
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Dear Friends, Supporters, and Community Partners,
There is a moment I keep returning to — the one that first stirred the vision for Restoration House, Inc. It was an impression from the Lord during an interview that I was hosting that far too many men and women leave incarceration with nothing more than a bus ticket and a few dollars, stepping into a world that seems to have moved on without them. No safe place to sleep. No steady hand to guide the way. No community to call their own.
That moment gave birth to a conviction: every person deserves a second chance, and a second chance must begin with a safe place to stand.
I am overjoyed to share that what was once a vision formed by an impression is now becoming a living reality. Restoration House, Inc. is on the threshold of opening our first four houses. Within the coming months, returning citizens will walk through those doors and into a community built just for them — a place where housing, job training, life skills, family reunification, and spiritual guidance are woven together into one transformative journey.
This newsletter — The Restoration Report — is our ongoing letter to you, our extended family. You are the donors who believe, the volunteers who show up, the referral partners who trust us with the people in your care, and the community members who see the potential in every returning citizen. Without you, none of this is possible.
We will publish this report every three months, and with each issue, I pray you will see the seeds of transformation taking root. I look forward to the day, very soon, when this space overflows with the testimonies of residents who dared to believe that a new life was possible — and found that it was.
Thank you for standing with us. God is not finished yet.
With hope and gratitude,
Yvonne Shelton, MSW, ND
President, Restoration House, Inc.
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“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
— Jeremiah 29:11
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Section 2
Resident of the Month
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Coming Soon — Watch This Space
This section is reserved for one of the most meaningful moments in any issue of The Restoration Report — celebrating the courage, perseverance, and transformation of a Restoration House resident.
Once our doors open, this space will honor the journey of a real person: their life before, the moment they chose something different, and the progress they are making inside a Restoration House community.
We believe that every story of redemption is worth telling. Every breakthrough deserves to be celebrated. And every resident who allows us to share their journey becomes a beacon of hope for the next person standing at the edge of a new beginning.
Stay with us. The stories are coming — and they will move you.
Or call us at (618) 200-5624
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Section 3 — Money Matters
Building a Financial Foundation
One Step at a Time
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Financial stability is one of the most powerful forces in a successful reentry. When a person has a clear picture of their money — where it’s going, how to protect it, and how to grow it — they build something precious: margin. Margin means breathing room. Margin means options. Margin means freedom.
Whether you are preparing for reentry, supporting someone who is, or simply looking to strengthen your own financial habits, these practical steps can help build a foundation that lasts.
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Start With a Simple Budget
A budget is not a punishment — it is a plan. And a plan puts you in charge of your money, rather than the other way around. Begin with three categories:
Needs — Tithing, Housing, food, transportation, utilities. These come first.
Wants — Things that bring enjoyment but are not essential.
Savings — Even $5 or $10 set aside each paycheck is a powerful start.
The 50/30/20 rule is a helpful guide: approximately 50% of take-home income toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings and paying down any debt.
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Track Every Dollar for 30 Days
For one month, write down everything you spend — every cup of coffee, every bus fare, every grocery run. This single habit is often eye-opening. A small notebook works. A free budgeting app works. There’s also a sample budget in The Second Chance Handbook. The method matters less than the practice.
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Open a Bank Account — and Keep It
Many banks and credit unions offer second-chance checking accounts designed specifically for people with past financial difficulties. A bank account allows you to receive direct deposit paychecks, build a documented financial history, and access savings tools and credit-building products. Ask your house Administrator about second-chance banking options in your area.
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Save Before You Spend
With the exclusion of tithing (which is done prior to spending for anything else), the secret to saving money is simple but counterintuitive: save first, then spend what remains. Even a small automatic transfer to a savings account on payday creates momentum. Over time, those small amounts grow into an emergency fund.
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Remember: Financial health is not built in a day. It is built in choices — small, consistent, faithful choices made over time.
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Section 4 — Healthy & Whole
Nourishing Body and Mind
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True restoration is not only about circumstances changing on the outside — it is about becoming whole on the inside. At Restoration House, we believe that caring for the body and mind is an act of self-respect, an affirmation that I am worth the effort, and confirmation that the body is the temple of God.
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RECIPE: Hearty Black Bean and Rice Bowl
Serves 4 | Budget-friendly | Ready in 30 minutes
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Ingredients
2 cups cooked brown or white rice • 2 cans black beans (drained and rinsed) • 1 cup frozen corn (or canned) • 1 can diced tomatoes (no salt added) • 1 tsp cumin • 1 tsp garlic powder • salt and pepper to taste. Optional: sliced avocado, fresh lime juice, shredded cheese.
Instructions
1. In a medium saucepan, combine black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, cumin, and garlic powder. Heat over medium, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes.
2. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Serve the bean mixture over warm rice.
4. Top with avocado and a squeeze of fresh lime juice if desired.
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Why it matters: This meal provides sustained energy through complex carbohydrates and plant-based protein — fueling focus and stamina for a full day of work and personal growth.
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MENTAL WELLNESS: The 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique
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When tension rises, pause and observe:
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5 things you can SEE
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4 things you can TOUCH
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3 things you can HEAR
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2 things you can SMELL
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1 thing you can TASTE
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This technique interrupts anxious thoughts by anchoring awareness in the physical world. It takes less than two minutes.
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SIMPLE MOVEMENT: The 10-Minute Morning Reset
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• 2 minutes of deep breathing (inhale 4 counts, hold 4 counts, exhale 4 counts)
• 10 jumping jacks
• 10 push-ups or wall push-ups
• 10 squats
• 1 minute of stretching — reach for the ceiling, then touch your toes
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Section 5 — Spiritual Anchors
A Word for the Journey
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There is a particular kind of strength that comes not from circumstances being easy, but from knowing you are not walking alone.
Every person who enters a season of transition — whether from incarceration, loss, or any form of beginning again — faces a question that sits quietly beneath all the practical ones: Is a new life really possible for me?
The answer that Restoration House, Inc. is built upon is an unequivocal yes. Not because the road is without difficulty, but because redemption is the very heartbeat of grace. Across centuries, in the stories of people whose names we know and countless more we will never read about, restoration has proven to be not the exception — but the promise.
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“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17
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This verse does not say the old was erased without pain, or that the new arrives without effort. It says the old is gone — not chasing you, not defining you, not having the final word. And the new is not coming someday. It is here. Present tense. Now.
If you are a returning citizen preparing for reentry, or someone supporting one: the past is not your sentence. It is not your identity. It is the ground from which something new is already growing.
If you are a donor or partner: thank you for believing in what you cannot yet fully see. Faith expressed through action — a check written, a door opened, a referral made — is what gives hope its hands and feet.
May you carry this truth into the weeks ahead: You are not too far gone. No one is.
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Section 6 — Life Skills Spotlight
The Art of Time Management
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Time is the one resource that cannot be saved, borrowed, or replaced. Time management is a skill, not a personality trait. It can be learned, practiced, and improved at any stage of life.
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Understand Where Your Time Is Actually Going
Keep a simple log for one week. Awareness is the first step. You cannot manage what you cannot see.
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Use the “Three Priorities” Rule
Each morning, identify the three most important things you need to accomplish that day. Write them down. Do not allow the day to end without completing those three things.
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Protect Your Morning
The first hour of each day has an outsized influence on everything that follows. When mornings begin with intention — a brief time of worship in the house, a nourishing meal, a review of the day’s plan — the rest of the day tends to follow suit. Resist the pull of the phone, social media, or distraction the moment you wake. Give the first hour of your day to spiritual preparation, not reaction.
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Break Large Goals Into Small Steps
Not “get my GED” — but “find out where the testing center is located.” Not “find a job” — but “update my resume by Friday.” Review the Personal Success Plan that you completed in The Second Chance Handbook. Small steps, faithfully taken, accumulate into remarkable destinations.
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Guard Your “Yes”
Every commitment you say yes to costs time. Practice saying a gracious, firm “no” to requests that do not serve your goals or values. This is not selfishness — it is stewardship. Your time belongs first to God. He has given it to you as a gift to manage wisely. God will provide your healing, your growth, and your future.
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“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”
— STEPHEN COVEY
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Section 7 — Partner Spotlight
Building a Community That Restores Together
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Restoration House, Inc. was never meant to stand alone. The vision from the very beginning has been a network — a web of relationships between housing, employers, faith communities, social service agencies, and court systems, all oriented around one shared conviction: returning citizens deserve a genuine pathway back.
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Employers Ready to Open Doors
Every returning citizen who completes vocational training and receives job placement is a testament not only to their own resilience, but to the employer who said yes. We are building relationships with local businesses and employers who understand that a reliable, motivated employee’s past does not disqualify their future. If your organization is open to hiring returning citizens, we want to connect. You gain a dedicated team member. A person gains their dignity and independence back.
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Faith Communities Willing to Walk Alongside
Churches and faith communities have historically been among the most powerful forces for reentry support. We are seeking faith partners who will commit to a sustained relationship with our houses — not as occasional visitors, but as authentic members of the extended community we are building. As a seventh-day-Sabbath-observing organization, we are seeking like-minded Christians to mentor our residents.
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Social Service and Referral Partners
Probation officers, case managers, public defenders, social workers, and court personnel are often the first to know when a returning citizen needs stable housing and structured support. We are committed to making the referral process simple, responsive, and trustworthy. Our eligibility requirements are available upon request.
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Section 8 — Volunteer & Giving Opportunities
Your Generosity Has a Name — and a Future
Every dollar given to Restoration House, Inc. and every hour volunteered becomes a bed in a safe house, a meal on a table, a life skills workshop delivered, a hand extended to someone learning to stand again.
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Your Gift in Action
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Gift Amount
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What It Provides
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$25
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One week of personal hygiene essentials for a resident
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$50
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One week of nutritious meals for a resident
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$100
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A full month of life skills workshop materials
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$250
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Vocational training supplies for one resident’s program
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$500
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One month of utility support for a Restoration House
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$1,000+
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Sponsorship of one resident’s full first month — housing, meals, and program access
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Every gift, at every level, matters. There is no donation too small, because no person’s restoration is too small to matter.
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Donate online:
ourrestorationhouse.org
Or by mail:
P.O. Box 93, Thompsonville, IL 62890
Restoration House, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3). All donations are tax-deductible.
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Volunteer Roles
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Life Skills Facilitator
Lead workshops on budgeting, time management, job readiness, and communication. Training provided.
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Vocational Mentor
Share your professional expertise one-on-one with a resident. A few hours per month makes a lasting difference.
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House Support Volunteer
Assist with meal preparation, house maintenance projects, or supply drives.
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Faith Community Ambassador
Help bridge the relationship between Restoration House and local faith communities. Connect us with churches, prayer teams, and spiritual mentors who share our fundamental beliefs.
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Administrative Support
Remote or in-person support with communications, events, and organizational needs.
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Section 9 — Upcoming Events & What’s Next
The Season of Opening
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House Openings — Coming Within Months
Our first four Restoration Houses are in the final stages of preparation. Each house will welcome 6–8 returning citizens into a structured, faith-integrated 2-year reentry program. The houses will have an off-site Administrator, and six internal officers chosen from among the residents to maintain order, accountability, responsibility, and cleanliness. We will announce specific opening dates through this newsletter and on our Facebook page.
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Open House Events — Coming Soon
Once each house is established, we will host open house events for community partners, potential volunteers, donors, and interested community members. To be on the invitation list, email info@ourrestorationhouse.org with the subject line “Open House Interest.”
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Expansion Vision
RHI’s long-term vision: one house for men and one house for women in every state. Our first four houses are not the finish line — they are the beginning of a movement.
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Restoration House, Inc.
Equipping returning citizens with housing, hope, and the tools for a new life — nationwide.
P.O. Box 93 | Thompsonville, IL 62890
(618) 200-5624
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info@ourrestorationhouse.org
ourrestorationhouse.org
| Facebook: Restoration House, Inc.
Restoration House, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
To be added to our mailing list or to unsubscribe, email info@ourrestorationhouse.org with the subject line “Newsletter” and your preference.
The Restoration Report is published every three months. Next issue: August–September 2026.
© 2026 Restoration House, Inc. All rights reserved.
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