EASTONALLEE — Freedom Hill Women’s Recovery Center drew a full house Saturday night as eight local singers took the stage for the organization’s first-ever “Voices for Freedom Hill” fundraiser — an energetic, talent-based spin on the traditional annual banquet that Executive Director Becky Easley said the ministry “desperately needed.”
The inaugural event, held at The Pointe Church in Eastanollee, featured live performances, audience voting, and a judging panel as finalists competed to raise money for Freedom Hill’s residential and aftercare programs. Easley said the organization aimed to raise $50,000 for expansion projects and early counts show they came “very close, if not met our goal.”
“We’ve done a banquet every year, and we needed something fresh,” Easley said. “One of my board members came up with the idea to do a version of ‘The Voice,’ and I wasn’t sure how in the world all that was going to take place. But she pulled together this amazing team — they’ve been the backbone of this whole thing.”
Easley said the center has seen an increasing need for long-term recovery support as the cost of living continues to rise. Freedom Hill operates on an 18-acre property and hopes to build cottages or duplex-style transitional homes, allowing women to remain with their children as they stabilize after completing the 12-month residential program.
“It takes a while to get on your feet,” Easley said. “We want a recovery community where women can be reunited with their kids and have their own space. The property is there — it’s just waiting to be used.”
A night of talent and testimony
Eight finalists were selected from open auditions at Freedom Hill’s chapel earlier this fall. From there, the group competed live Saturday night, each preparing two songs with the top four advancing to the final round.
Braden Wood, who lost a cousin to addiction earlier this year, won the grand prize.
“I really wanted to do this for him,” Wood said. “My family and I just felt that God needed me to do this.”
Wood, who performed while playing guitar, said the experience has inspired him to keep pursuing music. “Hopefully the radio,” he said. “I’ve got a couple songs written and I’d love to put out an EP or an album soon.”
Runner-up Issac McDougal, a senior at Habersham Central High School, said he entered after encouragement from a friend. He’s been singing since age 8 and credited his vocal coach for helping him develop his sound.
“It’s just been a great time — I’m glad I can share my gift with other people,” McDougal said. “I would love to sing as a career one day.”
Judges: “Every single person could have won”
Judges Ques Jeter and Lisa Smith said the level of talent exceeded expectations.
“It was nerve-wracking,” Jeter said. “Everyone did so good. As a singer, it was challenging not to critique too deeply, but it was amazing to pour into them and see their eyes light up.”
Smith agreed, saying the decisions were anything but easy.
“It was incredibly difficult — such talent,” she said. “Every single person could have won.”
Jeter, who also served on the event planning committee, said the auditions drew a large pool of hopefuls before the final eight were selected. “We have so much talent right here in our little small area,” she said.
An expanding mission
Freedom Hill’s 12-month program can currently house 12 women, with another seven beds available in a transitional house. The organization hopes the funds raised Saturday will move them closer to expanding capacity and building family-friendly housing for graduates in aftercare.
The center does not receive federal funding and relies on community support, its thrift store revenue, and donations from events like Voices for Freedom. Easley said the ministry maintains a high success rate — in the high 80 percent range — and many staff members are graduates of the program.
“My whole staff is made up of graduates except myself and Mitch,” she said. “I try to hire within because I know these ladies inside and out.”
For Easley, seeing families connected to recovery take part in the event made the night even more meaningful. One performer sang in honor of his cousin Sydney, a Freedom Hill graduate whose family established a scholarship in his memory. One of this year’s participants attended the program through that scholarship.
“It comes full circle,” Easley said. “Everybody did such a wonderful job. It was a great, great event.”
Final fundraising totals are expected early this week.
