Heart of the House – October Quarterly Newsletter

With summer’s end, autumn’s rush, and winter not too far away, we’re excited to share what’s been happening at Marian House and what’s to come this season!

Jane, one of our residents, shares her story of resilience: what brought her to Marian House, her progress since coming, and her exciting plans for the future!

You can also read about ways to get involved this coming holiday season, through our Thanksgiving Food Drive or our Holiday Adopt a Woman/Child/Family!

Other exciting contents include:

  • Volunteer Highlight: Don Mattran, Board Chair
  • 5K Recap
  • Ravens Winner Announced
  • Mental Health and Case Managers Recognition

CLICK HERE TO READ OUR OCTOBER NEWSLETTER!

New this year: Virtual 5K!

As we embark on our 11th year of the Marian House Race to Embrace Independence we are excited to announce an ALL NEW way to get involved in the annual fundraiser. Have you ever wished you could participate, but live too far, have a scheduling conflict or maybe running just isn’t for you? Well this year we have the answer to solve this, Virtual Running.

Maybe you have never heard of virtual running, but it is how we at Marian House hope to include everyone in the fun and festivities that support our work and our women. The all new virtual running option will allow participants both near and far a week to complete their mileage, from Sunday September 22nd-Saturday September 28th. You choose your starting line and when and where your finish line will be. Complete your distance in one day or over multiple days. This gives you the flexibility to do what works best for you while supporting an organization that you stand behind. Enjoy the race experience, but skip the parking and porta-potties.

Sign-up for our virtual run option and receive a printable race bib before race week and at-shirt post-race day. Your starting line starts where you choose, whether it’s a treadmill, bike, pool or neighborhood streets you choose how you complete the race distance of 1 mile to 5K.

CLICK HERE to register and join us no matter where you are and Race to Embrace Independence!

Don’t forget the special Virtual Run Raffle, upload a photo of you virtual running, walking, biking, etc. for the Marian House 5k, tag Marian House and use #MHVirtualRace to be entered in the virtual run drawing for a chance to $50 Amazon Gift Card. The Virtual Run raffle entry ends at the end of race day 11:59pm on September 28th. The winner will be announced Monday September 30th at 12:00pm.

Sample Virtual Run bib below – Register today and get your bib emailed to you!

Women & Prison

In an interview with the Justice Policy Institute, Executive Director, Katie Allston, Marian House resident, Carol Ann, and advocate, Kimberly Haven, explore the experiences of mothers before, during, and after prison.

Take a listen here:

Justice Policy Institute – Women and Prison

Expanding Our Reach

We’re excited to share our 2018 Annual Report: Expanding Our Reach

The 2018 fiscal year was a monumental year for Marian House. We are delighted to share the reflections of our women, friends and supporters within these pages, and we hope you will join them in celebrating what YOU have helped make possible for the women and children of Marian House this past year. In every one of our women’s homes, and throughout the halls of Gorsuch Avenue, we witness and celebrate small but precious moments of transformation – a woman earning her first pay check, another woman celebrating months of sobriety, children being reunified with their families, and still other women celebrating passing their GED test. These moments are possible because of YOU; our friends, family, foundation and community supporters. CLICK THE LINK ABOVE TO LEARN MORE!

Ways to Get Involved at Marian House

HOST A THIRD-PARTY FUNDRAISER

Help us raise the vital funds needed to provide housing and support services to women and children in need by hosting a fundraising event! View our third-party fundraising ideas list.

BE A MARIAN HOUSE AMBASSADOR
Do you have friends, family or coworkers that you think would love to learn more about Marian House? Host or invite them to one of our existing monthly events or create your own! These events can be informational and/or act as a fundraiser.

MOCK INTERVIEWS
Help our women prepare for the next step towards independence by participating in mock interviews. Provide insight, guidance, and experience to our women who are getting ready to apply for jobs!

SUPPER SHARING
You and a few friends, congregants or coworkers can volunteer to prepare a meal to drop off for, cook onsite (with or without the ladies) and/or serve to our women.

PROVIDE ENRICHMENT
Do you have a special skill, talent or hobby you’d like to share with our women and children? Offer a one time or ongoing activity to share those gifts and teach them to others!

CHILDCARE & ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
Our ladies need help supervising their little ones while they are at classes, appointments and meetings. You can also lend a hand to help us archive, file, inventory, clean, organize or more! Maybe you’d like to take a role in staffing our Marian House closet where residents can access items like donated clothing as they need it.

ADOPT A WOMAN/FAMILY
Commit to a calendar year of support including birthday and holiday gifts, welcome needs, encouragement and more. There are also opportunities to adopt a family at holiday time only.

WELCOME BASKETS
Each new resident receives a welcome basket with items such as lotion, soap, shampoo, shower shoes, new twin sized bedding, new towels, etc. to help them get started on their new journey. You can donate items or help us assemble one or more baskets!

YEAR-ROUND WISH LIST
You can help us stock our pantry and supply closet by donating items that we need on a regular basis for our women and children.

JOIN A COMMITTEE
We cannot do the work we do without the support of our committee members. You can volunteer to be a member of the following committees: Mission, Finance, Human Resources, Facilities, Advancement and the 5K Race Committee.

Contact us at advancement@marianhouse.org to get involved!

Marian House Video

Watch this video and learn more about Marian House through the women we serve.

“Marian House has transformed my life. I’m not alone anymore.”