It was less than a year ago that Coweta County residents Karhma and Anthony Novak founded a mission called Project 586 to be of assistance to needy families. The growing ministry continues to serve increasing numbers of people in need, yet it experienced a setback recently when a donated box truck used for deliveries caught fire and burned.
The idea for Project 586 began several years ago when Anthony and Karhma chose a family to receive Christmas gifts.
“We went to their house and the poverty was overwhelming,” Karhma said of the impetus to begin the Project 586 ministry. “Anthony said, ‘we’re Christians (and) what have we been doing all our lives?’ And it started from there.”
The name Project 586 comes from Isaiah 58:6-11. It is in one of those verses that the prophet asks, Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood.
To that end Anthony and Karhma worked with individuals and churches in Coweta County to stockpile donated clothes, shoes and other items for low-income residents in Senoia.
The first large event for Project 586 was held last summer in Senoia when Karhma and Anthony, along with April Anderson’s Backpack Buddies organization, provided backpacks filled with school supplies along with clothes and shoes to needy kids and families at no charge. In all, more than 70 individuals and families filled the Freeman Sasser building during the event.
Since then the Project 586 ministry has continued to expand. Anthony and Karhma work with organizations and ministries to meet the needs of families in Coweta, Spalding and other area counties.
Turin United Methodist Church, Northside Baptist Church, Vineyard Community Church and Peachtree City Christian Church have donation baskets for Project 586.
It was on March 21 that Anthony drove the 16-foot box truck that had been donated by Midwest Food Bank, and contained items that included a couch and love-seat, to a family that had offered to have Project 586 use their garage for storage space. It was after Anthony dropped off the items and was headed home that he called Karhma to say that the truck’s passenger compartment was filling with smoke.
“He called back and said smoke was coming from under the hood,” Karma said, explaining that Anthony pulled into a parking lot and exited the truck as it began to catch fire and burn. The truck was a total loss.
Karhma said the circumstances surrounding the truck fire along with photos were posted on the Project 586 Facebook page.
“A Senoia woman who follows us on Facebook, and her two children, wanted to give something,” said Karhma, the emotion in her voice evident. “They came to our house and brought towels and washcloths. And she gave us a check for $2,000 to help with another truck.”
Karhma said pastor Scott Balentine of Turin United Methodist Church has loaned his personal truck so deliveries can continue until Project 586 can secure another box truck.
Along with helping needy families, Project 586 and its growing ministry is helping provide clothes to children in three local schools and recently helped a mother and her children who had escaped an abusive situation and had become homeless. Helping single mothers and their children is another facet of the growing ministry.
Anyone wishing to help provide the funds to secure a box truck for Project 586 deliveries can visit www.facebook.com/project586 or contact Karhma Novak at 770-301-8368.
