One local group has been helping another.

     The warehouse of Brookhaven Outreach Ministries on Railroad Avenue has gotten a facelift this past week thanks to the Brookhaven Trust.

     The length of the building’s wall that faces the railroad tracks has been completely repainted a dark rust color, replacing the previous wall of bare brick and splotched, fading white paint.

     Terry Pappas, with the Brookhaven Trust, called the project good for both groups.

     “It works out both ways,” Pappas said. “He’s worked very hard on his ministry, and we’re glad to give his building a face lift.”

     Outreach Ministries’ founder and director the Rev. Jerry Durr is glad for help with the building.

     “We really needed that,” Durr said. “It’s been needing some attention.”

     The Trust also reconstructed the top of a wall that had been damaged by a lighting strike. Some holes in the brick wall were also filled in.

     The painting has gotten people’s attention.

     “All week people have driven by and asked what’s going on,” Pappas said.

     The Brookhaven Trust is a nonprofit focused on restoring Brookhaven’s historical heritage through renovations and restorations.

     The painting is the latest in a series of projects done by the Trust in seeking to improve the appearance of the downtown area. Current Trust president Malisia Smith has said the goal is target the corridor along the railroad.

     The Outreach Ministries warehouse was a priority because it allows the Trust to visually connect the Godbold Transportation Center with downtown, Pappas said.

     The group has also given the old Lott Furniture Building a facelift and painted the former Whistlestop Motorcycle Shop on Railroad Avenue.

     With the Outreach Ministries renovation nearing completion, there is some interest in giving a facelift to Southern Pawn on Whitworth Avenue.

     That will be for new leadership to decide, though.

     After the Outreach project, Pappas said a new president will be elected. The board and new president will together decide what to focus on next.

     There’s been more going on recently at the Outreach warehouse than just new paint. In November, Durr said his ministry received an $80,000 grant from Wal-Mart.

     It came at a needed time. Outreach Ministries had a difficult 2011. Durr and his wife both had some health problems, a delivery truck burned and a forklift motor died.

     With the grant, Durr was able to replace the truck and the forklift and undertake renovations throughout the warehouse.

     He added floodlights to an exterior wall, renovated the awning over the warehouse loading dock, had roof repairs done and built a new retaining wall inside the warehouse.

     Outreach Ministries has occupied the Railroad Avenue warehouse since 1997 when it was donated by Bob Massengill.

     Durr is ready to continue seeing things done at Outreach.

     “We’re just believing the Lord is going to do more and more,” Durr said. “We’re trying to position ourselves to help the community.”