Light. Hope. Transformation.

 

 

JOIN US IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE

The Gathering 2026: “Portraits of Hope”

Thursday, October 8, 2026
First Baptist Church | Hopewell, VA

Join City of Refuge for an uplifting evening celebrating transformed lives, new beginnings, and the power of community.

Enjoy great food, meaningful fellowship, live music from the Chesterfield Jazz Band, and a basket raffle, along with an inspiring message from featured speaker Jeff Deel, author of From These Roots.

Together, we’ll celebrate the hope and transformation happening through City of Refuge—and help make lasting change possible.

Sponsorships & Tickets Available Now
 
 
Registration: 6:30 PM
Business Casual Attire
 

FROM CRISIS TO STABILITY

City of Refuge provides emergency and transitional housing, meals, recovery services, and wraparound support to individuals and families facing some of life’s greatest challenges. Our goal is to meet people where they are and provide the practical resources, relationships, and support they need to move toward stability and lasting transformation.

In April 2026, City of Refuge purchased a new facility at 401 E. Broadway in Hopewell, creating an exciting opportunity to significantly expand our ministry and services. Renovations are underway, and we are working toward bringing our Recovery Program and wraparound services together in this new space.

Our vision is to create a place where individuals and families can access a broader range of resources under one roof, including:

  • Emergency and transitional housing
  • Meals and basic needs assistance
  • Recovery and counseling services
  • Comprehensive case management
  • Legal assistance
  • Financial education
  • Educational support
  • Childcare
  • Job training and employment support
  • Laundry and other practical services

This expansion will allow City of Refuge to reach more people, provide more resources, and create greater opportunities for lasting change. With the support of generous donors, partners, and community members, we can continue bringing light, hope, and practical help to those in need.

HELP US MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Your support of The Gathering helps make this work possible and helps City of Refuge continue building a community where individuals and families can find hope, healing, stability, and a path toward a brighter future.

DONATE A BASKET

Want to help make the evening even more special? Consider donating a basket to our raffle! Your contribution will help support City of Refuge and the individuals and families we serve. To donate a basket, please click here  

 
 

WHO WE ARE

City of Refuge is a faith-based drug recovery center that desires to bring opportunity and hope to individuals and families of Hopewell, the Tri-Cities, and surrounding areas by offering supportive services, recovery, job placement assistance and connection to high quality early childhood education so that individuals will rise up to meet their potential and our community’s families will find success and hope for their future.

 ABOUT US 

 OUR PROGRAMS

CoR: Hopewell Recovery Center

 We are a Peer-led, 9-month recovery program open to anyone earnestly seeking recovery. Using a best practice model of recovery support and the evidence based curriculum, The Courage to Change, we lead our participants through cognitive-behaviorally based activities of self-discovery and skill building while holding them accountable and providing community supports to help them find their pathway to recovery. Additionally, we are a Court diversion program using a sanctioned system, which means we work with local court systems to provide an alternative sentencing model for those caught in the cycle and behaviors often associated with addiction.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

BOARD

Avon Miles

Chairman

 

Brenda Pelham

Board Member


Rick Newman

Board Member

Darrell Boggs

Vice Chair

 

Michael Harris

Board Member
 

Sharon Neal

Board Member

Edith Winters

Secretary

 

Addie Hall Scott

Board Member
 

Kurt Lockwood

Board Member
 

We are currently seeking board applicants with professional expertise and skills in the following areas: Marketing, Strategic planning, Accounting, Non-profit Development and Fundraising, non-profit and felon legal services. If you fit this description and are passionate about our Mission and Vision, please fill out an application and return it to cityofrefugehopewell@gmail.com

GET INVOLVED

 

DONATE
Donate now or join City Lights, a monthly giving community where every dollar goes directly
towards bringing light, hope, and transformation to individuals on their road to recovery.
You can make a difference, every single month.
 
 
The Impact of Your Investment:
$15 per Month – Could provide 2 hot meals
$25 per Month – Could provide curriculum for 1 participant
$50 per Month – Could provide transportation for 1 participant for 1 week
$75 per Month – Could provide 1 week’s worth of rent at the Sober House
$100 per Month – Could provide groceries for 1 participant for 1 week
 
 
Why Invest Monthly?
 
Provides Hope
Monthly gifts enable us to
invest in specific areas of
our work, expand our
programs and innovate
within the community
because we know we have
the ongoing support of the
City Lights community.

It’s Community
Becoming a City Lights
member allows you to join
a dedicated group of
supporters who
understand the importance
of sustained commitment
to helping people in need.
 
Special Access
As a City Lights member,
you will have an up-close and personal
look at the City of Refuge mission to provide
Light, Hope, and Transformation.
 
 

PARTICIPATE

If you are a citizen who is excited and passionate about our mission and vision and would like to be a part of the solution for our city, please contact us directly at the4aldanas@gmail.com or check back periodically for more information as we figure out what it looks like to engage volunteers meaningfully and sustainably in our programming!
 
 

CONTACT US

RECOVERY CENTER:

Thurman Collier, CEO
Pastor_TC@yahoo.com
804-541-0935
 
Darchie Lewis, NCPRSS-Lead Instructor
bigcity810@gmail.com
804-295-2499
 
2300 Bluefield Street
Hopewell, VA 23860
 

BOARD MEMBERS:

 
 
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