Lending a helping hand
Hero credits parents for her generosity
August 29, 2007
By Tony Di Domizio
From The Reporter
Lansdale - The charity of Gloria Echols can be traced back to her childhood in Lake City, S.C., and the benevolence of her parents, Mable and Pittman Lemmon.
Echols, executive director of Community Housing Services, credits her parents with her desire to help people, and thus, become a Hometown Hero.
You will find many other such "heroes" in a special magazine inside today's Reporter.
"Housing and helping the poor have been something that's interested me since childhood," she said. "My parents did it; they took people home. It was something I knew that they did, and consequently, I've done it, having six or so people living in my home for CHS.
That influence from her parents has turned into a kind of ministry for Echols.
"It makes me feel really good," she said. "It is still what I want to do at CHS. As long as God allows, I will be helping someone."
Echols has been heading CHS since March 12, 1984. She is the founding director of the organization, which was formed from a community group founded by this newspaper.
"We knew there was a need to adress affordable housing in the North Penn community," Echols said. "The personnel committee met, I gave them my resume and I was hired. It's been a tough journey, but a good one."
The business graduate from Bennett College in Greensboro, N.C., began CHS with a budget of $34,000 at its original location at Manna on Main Street in Lansdale.
From there, CHS moved to 617 W. Main St. and finally settled in at its present location at 311 N. Broad St.
"We wanted to find affordable housing for all, but that was not happening," she said. "There was not enough for the needs. I believe what we try to accomplish as an agency has happened, but there is so much more to do. I have miles and miles to go before I sleep and before the agency sleeps."
When Echols isn't being a hometown hero for the poor, impoverished and homeless, she's singing her heart out about God.
If you attended or watched the Republican National Convention in 2000, you might have seen Echols singing the national anthem.
"I've been singing all my life," she said. "I sing wherever God leads, and wherever he leads me is where I go."
Echols finds gospel and contemporary Christian songs to be her niche. She is part of the worship team at Victory Christian Fellowship in Trooper. Echols would love to work on a demo.
"I'm always working on it in my head," she joked. "I never have time to go in the studio, but I would love to. One of my own personal ambitions is to make a Christian CD."
All singing aside, Echols finds that the challenges she faces in life add to the joy of everyday life.
"When we can actually help someone, when we see that a family has grown in our involvement be it once a week or once a month, that's the part that keeps us going," she said. "We know that if we are able to give a family a hand up and work with us, they do become self-sufficient."
What's most unusual about Echols' story is that hse can relate to the struggles of the people she helps because she was once there too.
When she was divorced and caring for her children, she found herself within one week of being homeless.
"I'm not talking about something I haven't experienced myself," she said. "I know the fear."
Echols knows being a part of CHS is her true calling.
"I don't think I could do this without knowing how to service the least of needs," she said. "My spiritual journey is very important."