The Rainbow Community Center opened June 16, 1996 as a summer camp for underprivileged children. In 2001, Pastor Clara Lett launched The Garden of Gethsemane Homeless Shelter, which was granted a building by the City of Covington and Mayor Sam Ramsey on Sept. 17, 2007.

The Garden of Gethsemane shelter and Rainbow Ministries have continued to provide for the less fortunate of Newton County through its donors and board of directors. Those executive board members — Ben Wood, Douglas Doster, Catherine Charles-Warner, Charlene Ellis, Sam Ramsey, Dr. Frank Batkins, Dr. Wiley Stephens, Nina Coleman, Elliott Roth, Eric Threets, Cheryl Heard, Jean Jensen, Kristin Keaton, Sharon Sawyer, Mary Frazier and Winston Williams — gathered at the Church of Covington Friday night for the shelter’s annual Christmas dinner.