Firm Foundation Preschool in need of new roof

Matthew’s Hope Firm Foundation Preschool has a leaky roof, and the nonprofit is asking for help to repair it. 

Scott Billue, founder of Matthew’s Hope, said the property on which the preschool sits was purchased 10 years ago, and although the organization renovated the building, it never put a new roof on it. 

Now, after more than a decade, the preschool, which serves 35 students, has three leaks on the roof causing it to deteriorate.

“We started to get rain, and we started getting water inside,” he said. “We thought we had patched it, but it started developing a little bit of mold. We got rid of the mold, but the water keeps wanting to come in. Basically, it’s deteriorating, so I’ve got to replace it, because if I let it go, it’s not going to be safe for the kids.”

Billue said timing is critical, as he wishes to repair the roof before the weather changes again and heavy rain hits West Orange. 

“My concern is that if we let this go and we were to have several large rains like we’ve had this year again, then it can become a problem, because you have students in there and you can’t have water coming down the wall or onto the floor when people are there,” he said. “Fortunately, that has never happened, but we want to make sure that it never does happen. Because if it did, we would literally have to shut down the school until we figured it out.”

If they were to shut down, it would affect at-risk and homeless children ages 1 to 5 from receiving free Montessori education from qualified teachers, as well as their parents from working or studying, which also is what qualifies their children to be able to attend. 

“I want people to understand that if you’re homeless — as long as you’re going to school or working — it doesn’t cost you anything to go to Firm Foundation,” Billue said.

To continue serving the homeless and at-risk children daily, the roof must be repaired. 

The plan is to put a pitch on the roof so water can drain off it and avoid the school from shutting down. 

The cost to do that is around $30,000 to $32,000. 

“It’s critical because the truth is I don’t have $30,000 just sitting around waiting to be spent,” Billue said.

He said the issue was unexpected, and recently, the organization was spending six times the amount he would per day to feed people who weren’t able to receive SNAP benefits.

If the nonprofit can raise $250,000 by Dec. 31, an anonymous donor is willing to match it.  

In one month, Matthew’s Hope has been able to raise $173,000 toward the matching donation, which will go toward the roof and other minor repairs at the school, as well as the addition of a new classroom. 

“The hope is that we would be able to do that with this kind of matching grant,” Billue said. “There’s an absolute need (for it). Typically, we have people literally on a waiting list to get into the school at times.” 

The earlier the money is raised, the quicker repairs can be made.

“We’re happy if somebody wants to write a check towards the roof,” he said.

Billue said 87% of Matthew’s Hope funds go directly to services, which puts people at ease knowing their money actually is helping those in need, like the students at Firm Foundation Preschool.