Save the Sweet Home Church-Mt. Ida

She had sat empty for quite a while and I guess no one really knew who's responsibility she was. My husband and I had been looking to purchase a small farm when we heard of Clyde Hughbanks' auction. In 2001, we ended up buying the lot known on auction day as the 'homestead'. (BTW, this happened to be the one place I had admired as the “prettiest place on earth” since my late teens.) There was some question as to whether a nearby church went with the homestead but we were there to buy a farm not a church so it didn't matter to us. Later we discovered that the church property had reverted back to the homestead when it was abandoned some years back so it was ours.  I've always wanted to keep her up but by now the grand old lady is really starting to show her age. I would like to preserve the structure and heritage the church brings to the Sweet Home community, Montgomery County, and the many tourists who stop and admire the Sweet Home Church. Most of my conversations with area residents and even passerbys have mentioned the memories of activities at the church, their excitement of passing the landmark in their travels, or the time they've spent on the steps beneath the cross and how sad it would be if the church was no longer there. I would truly be thankful if I could get her fixed up so people could once again make memories inside Sweet Home. 
My name is Karen Hamilton. I have been working on repairs of the Sweet Home Church and it seems she is going to need a new roof very soon. I would like to try to raise funds to do this as soon as possible. FYI, I can also display payments (anonymous or public) received offline on the campaign. No fees apply for those received via mail or in person so if you prefer, the mailing address is PO Box 1004, Mt. Ida, AR 71957.