Shelby County Community Outreach: in Harlan and beyond

A Vision Born on a Rooftop Transforms into Two Decades of Community Service

When Ron French climbed onto his parents' roof in 2003 to replace some shingles, he never imagined that simple act of service would launch a community organization that would still be thriving 20 years later. As he sat atop the house near Underwood, looking out over the countryside, French felt a calling.

"It wasn't an audible voice, but I feel like God spoke to me and said, 'There are a lot of people that need this type of work done, and they live right in your own backyard,'" French recalls.

That moment of inspiration led to the creation of Shelby County Community Outreach (SCCO), a nonprofit organization serving Harlan and surrounding communities through practical assistance, home repairs, and affordable household goods.

From Rooftop Inspiration to Community Institution

French, who was working for a graphic arts company in Omaha at the time, couldn't shake the idea of helping elderly residents with home repairs they couldn't manage themselves. On his hour-long drive home, he formulated a plan—and even put out a "fleece" to confirm his calling.

"I said, if this is you, God, you're going to have to confirm this through my wife, because she's more conservative," French says with a smile. "When I got home, I started telling her about what I was thinking and feeling. Much to my surprise, she said, 'I think you heard right.'"

Between the summer of 2003 and February 2004, French connected with others in the community who shared similar visions for service. Barb and Gary Wirtjes were helping a woman with two small children get into a mobile home. Mike Cain offered financial expertise. Dave Pedersen shared insights from his involvement with Habitat for Humanity.

Together, they co-founded Shelby County Community Outreach in 2004, choosing the name to emphasize their county-wide mission. "We wanted to have reaches into all the communities of Shelby County, not just Harlan," explains French, who serves as Executive Director.

Three Pillars of Service: Hero's Attic, Home Repairs, and Community Resources

Today, SCCO operates with a clearly defined mission centered around three primary services.

Hero's Attic, their most visible presence in the community, emerged from a practical need. "People would say, 'I know you're helping lower-income individuals. I've got a couch in my basement just sitting there. If you know somebody who can use it, let me know,'" French remembers.

What began in the upstairs of the American Legion building has evolved into a storefront operation that serves both donors and recipients. Located at 1105 8th Street (kitty-corner from the library and behind Midstates Bank), Hero's Attic accepts and sells quality used furniture and appliances that are "microwave-size and larger."

"It serves two different groups of people," explains French. "It serves people looking for good quality, affordable furniture and appliances. It also serves people who have those items that they know are still good but don't know what to do with them. It's a win-win situation."

Hero's Attic offers discounts based on need, with a 25% discount for those using SNAP/EBT cards and up to 50% off for qualified low-income shoppers. They also provide pickup and delivery services within a 25-mile radius of Harlan for a modest fee.

The store's inventory includes couches, chairs, dressers, filing cabinets, lights, tables, beds, mattresses, TVs, and appliances. A separate "ReStore" area offers doors, windows, sinks, toilets, lighting fixtures, and other home improvement items.

Linda Nelson manages Hero's Attic, overseeing inventory and working about 30 hours a week during open hours, while Marian Bretey serves as SCCO's office manager, handling administrative duties and coordinating Salvation Army resources for approximately 12.5 hours per week.

The Home Repair Ministry addresses what French calls the "honey-do list"—small projects that professional contractors often won't take on but that can significantly impact quality of life.

"A lot of it started with elderly women. The husband has passed away, the kids live out of state, they're not around anymore. They used to have a neighbor across the street who would help, but he's gone too," French explains.

These residents often sit at home worrying about burned-out light bulbs they can't reach, gutters that haven't been cleaned in years, or loose trim they can't fix. SCCO steps in to handle these tasks, primarily serving elderly, disabled, and low-income residents.

"We want to be that support system," says French. "Every contractor will tell you 'no job is too small,' but the reality is there are jobs that are too small. They're not going to pull away from roofing a house to go to Grandmother's house and clean out her gutters because she's stressing over it."

The organization defines qualifying jobs as those that can typically be completed in two hours or less. For these services, homeowners are responsible for material costs, while labor is provided on a donation basis.

"We're an arm of the churches," French says simply. "We're here to be supportive and be the hands and feet of Jesus on this earth in a practical way."

Bridging the Gap serves as the third pillar of SCCO's work, connecting people with resources throughout the community. They serve as the local Salvation Army affiliate, managing funds from the annual bell-ringing campaign to provide emergency assistance with overnight accommodations, fuel, utility bills, and more.

Building a Legacy for the Future

Now 64, French is focusing on ensuring SCCO's sustainability for decades to come. The organization recently hired its second full-time employee, Christian Soll, who is taking over the home repair specialist role that French has filled for years.

"I'm moving more into a full-time position as executive director focused on organizational health and trying to keep us going for the next 20 years," says French. "Part of that is going to be fundraising."

One challenge French hopes to address is the common misconception about nonprofit operations.

"Some people don't understand—nonprofit doesn't mean people don't make a salary," he explains. "You have to have a paid staff that you can hold accountable to get things done. If you're going to build an organization that's going to be here for the next 20-30 years, you need to offer salaries that are competitive."

To build financial stability, SCCO launched a "Five to Thrive" campaign in 2022, encouraging residents throughout Shelby County to commit to monthly donations as small as $5.

"If we have everybody in the county giving $5 a month to our organization, we would have ample money to work with," French says. "I would rather have $240 coming to us in the form of $20 a month than a $250 check at the end of the year, because we can budget on that."

French's vision for the future includes expanding Hero's Attic into a larger space that could accommodate more donations and specialized areas for high-end items, basic inventory, bargain finds, and even a repurposing workshop where community members could gather.

For the home repair ministry, he dreams of having specialists stationed throughout Shelby County to better serve all communities without extensive travel time.

"I've told people from the very beginning, I want this organization strong and healthy enough so that when I'm too old to climb up on my roof to clean out the gutters, I've got somebody to call," French says.

After two decades of service, the passion that began on a rooftop continues to drive French and the SCCO team as they work to meet practical needs throughout Shelby County—one fixed light fixture, one delivered couch, and one connected resource at a time.

Visit Hero's Attic at 1105 8th Street in Harlan (kitty-corner from the library) Tuesday through Saturday. Learn more about Shelby County Community Outreach at scco-inc.org, follow them on Facebook or call 712-235-7226. To support their "Five to Thrive" campaign and help them continue serving Shelby County, consider becoming a monthly donor through their website.