Darel Long's donation SPIRIT: Born out of adversity

SWoCo resident Darel Long dreams of a business that brings area churches together in an effort to provide assistance to community members in need. His idea for donation SPIRIT was born out of adversity, Long says, and it all started with an eight year-long custody battle.

Long fought for shared custody of his daughter from 1999 to 2006 and spent $387,000 to litigate his case. Long and his attorney decided that the only way to achieve any measure of success in his custody battle was to ensure that he was working fewer hours per week so he could have an active role in raising his daughter, he said. Long tried to take a part time position at his job as a banker; however, the bank was unable to accommodate him, so Long tendered his resignation.
Long began selling advertisements on a website he began detailing how to care for roses, but he was still facing $387,000 in debt. Long turned to friends and family for aid, and they helped as best they could. Even though Long admits his future seemed very dim, he chose not to file for bankruptcy.
"Basically, I held my head above water for one and a half to two years," Long said. "I eventually started getting behind on my payments."
Then in 2009, Long faced a major medical issue and was unable to work.
"I fell behind with rent next, and I was facing eviction if I didn't find immediate relief," Long said. "The banks see credit as a source of character." Bad credit to them means a "lack of character to excel."
Getting a bank loan, then, was not an option.
"I was forced with the possibility of having to ask for government assistance," Long said. "It's contrary to my ideals, but it was a necessary step. I didn't qualify for any of their programs, or it would have been a long wait. There was no immediate help," Long said, and his friends and family members had helped as much as they could after his court case.
While Long was searching for another option, a new owner bought the apartment complex where Long was living and "turned it into Section 8," according to Long.
"It became drug infested and there were lots of fights. I told my ex-wife that my daughter needed to stay with her until I could move," Long said.
It was beginning to look like Long's only options were to be homeless or to live in a shelter, until a friend suggested that Long call area churches to see if they could help.
"I called 125 churches before one of them said they could help," Long said. One offered to pay his electric bill; one offered to give him some food and $10, he said.
Long finally found a new place to live, and after he wrote a letter detailing his situation, along with his references, Cave Spring Baptist Church offered to pay his deposit and his first month's rent.
"Churches are lacking the ability to reach out and help," Long said.
donation SPIRIT would be a place where people could donate their gently used items, like clothing, antiques, jewelry and more. The stores would then sell the goods; the funds would be used to cover the operating costs, but everything left over would be distributed to participating area churches to help establish benevolent funds.
"My mission is to help churches strengthen local communities with a caring heart," Long said. "Instead of the churches saying no, they can say yes with a limitation."
Long hopes to start by establishing small donation centers outside of other retail locations, eventually working his way to several dedicated retail centers in the area and beyond. So far, four churches have committed and Long has reached out to several more about participation.
For more information about Darel Long and donation SPIRIT, check back at swo-co.com.