Selling out for a cause

This is the first of a two part story about the non-profit organization, Harvest House. The second part will focus on the UB Law School's community project, which plans to raise over 10 million dollars to fund the Harvest House Ministry Center.

Gary and Linda Tatu took the road less traveled.

In 1993 the couple sold their 2,200 square foot home in Williamsville and purchased a 22,000 square foot derelict church on Seneca Street in Buffalo, putting all of their savings into the founding of the non-profit organization they named Harvest House.

The purpose of Harvest House was to welcome needy people and groups from all over the world who are in search of spiritual, emotional and physical support.

"We make space available for non-profit groups," said Gary Tatu, vice president on the Harvest House board. "We never know who's coming next."

The decision to give up a life of comfort for a cause not guaranteed to succeed was a risk because if they failed, they would have ended up penniless. Their family and friends thought they were crazy to take such extreme measures to serve the community of Buffalo.

Gary, who owned and ran Tatu Construction at the time of Harvest House's inception, said he never dreamed he would have sold his house to purchase a church in desperate disrepair. With three grown children, he was content with his life. He had Sabres season tickets, a motorcycle-the works. Tatu said he never thought that he would give up so much for other people.

"The adult toys you think you have to have to be happy, I was never ever going to sell that house," Tatu said.

One thing led to another, and Gary could not ignore the signs around him pointing towards the purchase of the church, he said.

"What really caught my attention was 30 students hanging out on the front steps, with nowhere to go," Tatu said. "And that was how it all started."

After a number of offers, the owners finally sold the building to the couple. Many people would be intimidated by renovating a decrepit church, however Tatu's construction background gave him the perfect tools to lay the foundation for Harvest House.

Now they live in a one-room apartment that was originally built for the pastor, in 1922. The building boasts large rooms perfect for large gatherings, including living space, a kitchen, gym, library, game room and dormitory-style rooms for those who stay overnight.

Up to 2,000 people use the building each month. Meeting space is provided for support meetings, block clubs, bible studies, scouting and spiritual retreats, among others.

Home schooled children as well as individuals from as far as Germany, Ireland, South Africa and across the United States have all been housed in the building.

The organization thrives on grants and private donations. Those who use the building are asked to give a small donation, but those who cannot afford it are not turned away.

"Everybody who uses the building say it feels comfortable here, like they are home," Tatu said.

Twelve years later, Harvest House is thriving and expanding. An entire city block was donated on Jefferson Avenue, which will be used to house the future Harvest House Ministry Center.

The UB Law School has adopted the Harvest House Ministry Center as its community project for the next few years, and will work to acquire the millions of dollars necessary to keep it running successfully. The non-denominational center will provide an array of services, including free medical care, educational classes and a furniture bank.

According to Tatu, the purpose of the educational center is to give individuals the instruction they haven't previously been fortunate enough to receive.

"All of the things their parents haven't taught them," Tatu said. "You can change the lifestyle through education."

Harvest House's success was not without trials, which are documented in Linda Tatu's book, "Five Years of Faith: The Harvest House Story."

"The first three years were hell," Gary said.

Tatu said their neighbors were non-supportive and suspicious of the couple. Break-ins, threats and slashed tires were common for the couple. The city wasn't receptive either because during the first few years of the Harvest House's existence, with a constant flow of eviction notices and unwarranted violations coming their way.

In one long, ongoing court battle they had to prove it was legal to have people sleep in the church, and that the apartment they reside in was built at the same time as the church. The time-consuming trials of running and fighting for Harvest House even led Tatu to quit his job.

With Tatu's motto, "Work as if everything depends on you, and pray as if everything depends on God," Harvest House survived. The couple has received over 15 awards for their service to the Buffalo community. Half a million dollars was put into the building to make it usable, including four additions. One of the additions is devoted to space for the Baby and Children's Outreach Program, the largest supplier of free baby items and clothing in the tri-county area.

It began in the attic of Harvest House. In 2004, 2,852 children were helped, and over 200 agencies in the area still refer needy clients. Due to the high demand, the Baby Ministry will be moved to the new Harvest House Ministry Center upon completion, where it will have four times the square footage of its original space.

"This is how our life has evolved since we've been here. We're not special people," Tatu said. "Our life has changed since we've been here."