SAVANNAH, Ga. – Union Mission and West Construction will celebrate the Grand Re-Opening of the Don & Kaye Kole Magdalene House on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. The celebration marks the completion of renovations that create a safer, more welcoming environment for women with children experiencing homelessness. The event will take place at Union Mission’s Magdalene House, 1407 E. 41st Street, Savannah, GA 31405.
The completed renovation expands Union Mission’s Emergency Housing Program for women with children. The upgraded facility features eight family bedrooms with private bathrooms, refreshed interiors and exterior improvements, and is expected to serve more than 10 additional mothers and 20–30 additional children each year.
Additional improvements include two fully equipped kitchens, two laundry rooms, two family-friendly common areas and a dedicated computer lab. Together, these updates enhance durability and security while creating warm, child-friendly spaces that encourage connection, learning and healing.
West Construction, a longtime partner of Union Mission, contributed substantial in-kind resources along with its subcontractors or partners to bring the transformation to life, reflecting its commitment to the community and Union Mission’s work. “The Magdelene House program has a proven track record of changes lives,” said Matt West, President of West Construction Company. “We are proud to be on the team with Union Mission and help affect real change in our community. I can’t wait to see all the good to come from the renovated Magdalene house.”
Families experiencing homelessness face unique barriers, including securing living-wage employment, accessing affordable childcare and maintaining safe, stable housing. Union Mission’s Magdalene House provides up to 90 days of housing along with food, case management, transportation, access to childcare and additional support services, including mental health counseling. In 2025, this program served 36 mothers and 69 children, and 98% of families moved into stable housing.
“For mothers, homelessness can mean choosing between childcare and employment,” said Michael Traynor, Union Mission President & CEO. “For children, it can mean disrupted education and instability at a young age. Beyond shelter, families need time, support and a safe place to heal. Union Mission is proud of the strong outcomes achieved through Magdalene House.”
Union Mission thanks West Construction Company for the leadership and generosity that helped make this transformation possible. Major donors also include The Kole Family, Georgia Power Company, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson, Kiwanis Club of Skidaway, and The Market at 3 West Ridge, Bank of America, Chick-Fil-A, The Day Family Foundation, Frances Wood Wilson Foundation, The Lesher Family Foundation, The One Hundred Children’s Foundation, and Paul & Lori Keith Robinson. Union Mission also extends special thanks to the following in-kind supporters: ABC Maintenance Services, Atlantic Waste Services, Bonitz of Georgia, Capital Materials, Chatham Engineering, Coastal Sash and Door, Consolidated Electrical Distributors, CS Hurd Electrical, Custom Cabinets, Dan J. Sheehan Company, Dumpster Dogs, Ecofoam Insulation, Felder & Associates, Georgia Automatic Sprinkler, Gonzalez Construction Services, Guerry Lumber, Hagan Home Services, Hutson Plumbing, Maureen Pacifici, McCarthy, Inc., Premier Exteriors, Thomas & Hutton, and White Cap.
To learn more about the renovation or ways to support Magdalene House and Union Mission, contact Mark Toth, Director of Major Gifts and Organizational Strategy, at (248) 770-3933 or mtoth@unionmission.org.
ABOUT UNION MISSION:
Union Mission has cared for Savannah’s homeless community for more than 85 years, offering emergency, transitional and permanent housing solutions to those in need. Union Mission also provides mental health counseling, food, clothing, transportation, and job placements as part of its comprehensive wrap-around supportive services available to all homeless people in the community. Learn more about Union Mission and the programs and services it provides for our community at www.unionmission.org.
ABOUT WEST CONSTRUCTION: West Construction Company is a Savannah-based commercial general contractor serving clients throughout Georgia and the Southeast. With decades of experience across commercial, industrial, institutional, and specialty construction sectors, the company has earned a reputation for quality craftsmanship, integrity, and exceptional customer service. Through a collaborative approach and commitment to excellence, West Construction delivers projects that create lasting value for clients and communities alike.
Union Mission: Union Mission has cared for Savannah’s homeless community for more than 85 years, offering emergency, transitional and permanent housing solutions to those in need. Union Mission also provides mental health counseling, food, clothing, transportation, and job placements as part of its comprehensive wrap-around supportive services available to all homeless people in the community. Learn more about Union Mission at www.unionmission.org.