About

Dwelling At the Well is a registered 501(c)(3) organization that uses holistic methods to meet women where they are. We help them mend the broken areas of their lives so they can become whole in mind, body, and spirit. And we help them stay on track to obtain and maintain a successful recovery journey.

 

Jacqueline McClendon, Founder and Executive Director

Jacqueline develops and oversees all the programming, hiring, and day-to-day operations of The Well. She is responsible for allocating program funds, planning/approving events and fundraisers, securing grants and donations, and being the public face of the organization. Jacqueline is a hands on ED and she loves connecting with each and every woman involved in her programs. She provides personal motivation, coaching, and counseling for the women and the staff.

 

Jacqueline's Story

                                        Over 22 years ago, Jacqueline was set free from a 15+ year

addiction to alcohol and drugs. There was a time in her life when she felt hopeless, with no

direction or purpose. Her life was heading nowhere - fast! And even though she wanted

to change, she realized that she couldn't do it on her own. It took a power greater than

herself and a strong support system. She says God's Grace is why she's alive to experience

His Goodness today. She's forever grateful to God for giving her a place to go when she

needed help. A good friend, Janice Jernigan (who has since gone to be with The Lord), told

her about a ministry called Victory Outreach. She entered Victory Outreach Chicagoland's

Women's Recovery Home on March 10, 2000 under the leadership of Pastor Nick and Maira

Walker and Home Director, Deborah Chaffen. She knows that she can never "repay" God for

her miracle deliverance or the blessings she currently has in her life, but The Well is her way

of "paying God's Goodness forward" to other women in her same position.

 

It wasn't long before the Victory Outreach pastors and home directors saw a desire and a vision birthed in Jacqueline to volunteer and help support the women's home. She was promoted and served as the Live-In Home Director for two years. This role taught her how to manage and run a women's home as well and helped develop her teaching, coaching, counseling, and planning skills.

 

In addition to running Dwelling At the Well, she also is a practicing Recovery Coach for a local non-profit and she's pursuing an advanced degree in Social Services and Addiction Studies.

 

As the need for women's recovery homes increases - so does her passion and burden for meeting that need. Jackie is a missionary and evangelist at heart. She regularly goes out on the street with her Outreach Teams to minister one-on-one to the women she hopes to serve. She often provides toiletries, food, clothes, and small goody bags to women - at no cost to them. And she always prays for them and with them before sending them on their way. Over the years she has invited many women into her personal home and given them a safe place to stay, a place of refuge, a place of peace - a place to gather their courage and walk a different path. But a dedicated, permanent, recovery home for women is the very best way she can serve them. That is the sole reason for Dwelling At the Well.

 

In Biblical times, women would get up very early in the morning and gather at the community well to draw water (provision) for their animals, their families, and themselves. At The Well they would tell each other their stories. They would laugh and cry together, lament and rejoice. And just as in those days - The Well's Restoration Home for Women will be a place where women gather to give and receive love, share peace, speak hope, and build community.