“You are not your mistakes. If you mess up, ask for help…”

What was life like before coming to Marian House? Quay entered in September 2022.

In my case, it depends on where the story begins. There’s a bizarre and confusing mix of awesomeness and tragedy. My journey to Marian House started around the same time COVID plagued the world. I’d recently moved to Baltimore. I lived by the harbor; thought Thad the career of my dreams, and literally 3 bad decisions later, I was in rehab by the end of that year, facing eviction, addiction, and I was quickly spiraling into deep despair.

What led you to Marian House?

Three years after COVID, after my struggles with substance abuse started, I experienced being homeless in Iowa, trapped in a relationship with an ex-convict and life-long criminal. I recently lost the baby I had with that guy. I hated my job at a local grocery. My grandfather had died 2 days before my 34th birthday. And yeah, I was still struggling with my addiction. I was using in the bathroom of my job and dropping weight like water. I ended up having a moment where I decided I was going to give up, that my addiction was unbeatable. I spent an entire week running the streets of Baltimore. During that week I experienced where my addiction was going to lead me to (in the worst ways), and on that 5th day, a couple I was using with walked me to treatment, and that’s where this journey began.

How would you describe Marian House to someone else?

Marian House is a safe haven for women and families, where you will be loved and encourages until you learn to love and encourage yourself. Marian House is a place where you can shed your traumas, your pain and recover from whatever circumstance led you here. At Marian House, anyone can grow, become educated, and learn healthy life skills that will directly help you become the best version of yourself. Marian House is the only place they anyone should go if they really want a better life, as it is unlike any other rehabilitation center in the city. Marian House will teach you how to manage your money, everyday work/life balance skills, relationships, emotions, and your schedule. You cannot leave this place without learning to be a productive human, PERIOD.

What has been the most helpful to you at Marian House?

It would hands down have to be the fact that most of the staff are female and each and every one of them love and respect the women that come through the doors. They don’t see you as your mistakes and every staff member pulls out the very best in you. I really take a lot from my therapy sessions with Ms. Beth who is the most phenomenal woman. She has this crazy ability to pull things out of me I try to hide. I really couldn’t imagine my growth without my counselor, Ms. Beth.

What’s something you learned here that you will take with you?

I learned that it’s okay to ask for help and needing others doesn’t make me weak. I learned that trauma isn’t always physical and emotional scars do in fact shape you in ways that may not be so easily detectable but are still equally as important to address.

When people support Marian House, what are they supporting?

They are helping women have a safe place to go each night. They are supporting educational dreams and aspirations. They are helping women find and keep careers. They are helping clothe, feed, educate, and mold women to become better citizens and better parents. They are helping women realize their potential by taking away, just for a while, the stress of dealing with a life full of the challenges that hold them back.

If you could talk to your younger self (5 or 10 years ago), what would you tell them?

You are not your mistakes. If you mess up, ask for help, dust yourself off, and start over. You can trust people and you can accomplish anything you want with a plan and action.

Marian House is excited to have Katie O’Brien and Nazish Weaver as our Co-Chairs for the 15th Annual Race to Embrace

Independence 5K Run and Walk. Nazish previously volunteered with our race and eagerly stepped up to co-chair our 2023 5K. Katie ran our race in 2022 and was encouraged to help lead as a co-chair in 2023. She has extensive experience racing different events, but this is her first time planning one.

Katie was connected to us by Tony Moag, COO at Whiting-Turner and is childhood friends with

Megan Ferris. Although born in New York, Katie grew up in Maryland and attended the University of Maryland to study civil engineering. She has worked at Whiting-Turner since she graduated 13 years ago, and does quality management for major healthcare construction projects. She has been married to her high school sweetheart for 11 years. She lives in Catonsville with her 6-year-old son, 4-year-old -daughter and 11-year-old German Shepherd, Shaefer. She loves traveling and also competing in multiple races a year as a triathlete. Katie started volunteering at Marian House by serving on the WIE committee as a construction related resource. She joined the Board in the Fall of 2020 and sits on the Facilities Committee.

Nazish met Katie Allston & Karen Albert at a CareFirst Board Connect event that helped introduce nonprofit organizations to CareFirst employees interested in serving the community. She started volunteering at Marian House in Fall 2019 by joining the Advancement Committee and is now a member of our Board. Nazish has always valued a life of service and loves being an ambassador for Marian House and our mission! Her background includes a Bachelors in International Business and a Masters in Healthcare Administration. She works at CareFirst as an Account Consultant, managing retention with market employer groups from 2-199 people. She has been at CareFirst for 7 years and loves the relationship building focus that they have. She also happens to work with Mary Penczek, former 5K committee & Board Member. Nazish and her husband live in Owings Mills and have three adult children ages 21-26. In her spare time, she loves making jewelry, furniture flipping, and loves to walk and cook. She wholeheartedly believes that love is best shared through food!

While both Katie and Nazish have been busy planning our annual 5K, Nazish also finished a 20-mile Mammoth March walk in Newark, Delaware and enjoyed several weekend trips, while Katie has an upcoming family trip to Northern Italy & Switzerland for her parents’ 70th birthdays. As we’re wrapping up a fun-filled summer, we are all eager to see you at the race on September 30, 2023 – here at Marian House. Please REGISTER TODAY at marianhouse.org/5k

And the Winner Is . . .

Mark Davis is the winner of our Annual Ravens Season Ticket Raffle. Sold by our very own Scott. Mark was intrigued with the possibility of winning and brought tickets.

When he was called on July 27, 2023, and notified that he was the winner, he was thrilled. He had the option of taking the 4 Ravens season tickets or the $1,500 in cash and he chose the tickets without hesitation.

Thanks to Mark and to all who purchased tickets, for their support of our mission. We will offer the raffle again in the spring of 2024.

See you next year and may the odds be in your favor!

Help support the Marian House programs and make a donation today >

Planning for the 15th Annual Race to Embrace Independence IS UNDERWAY!

The race will beheld in late September and will start and end at Marian House Virtual participation is available for those who can’t join us in-person. We are seeking sponsors from local businesses. By pledging to sponsor us from $1,500 to $10,000 your company can get its logo on the race day shirt. For more details, please call 410-467-4250. Sponsorship benefits and opportunities are below.

We want to hear from you!

Every woman & child we have served over the past 40 years has a story.

Our staff have heard countless stories of survival, recovery, love, gratitude, success,
and second chances. We would love to hear your stories. Your story is deeply connected to our story!

Residents, former residents, donors, and volunteers, we know it takes many hands to serve so many in the ways that we do. How did you choose to get involved with us? Please take a few moments and tell us your favorite Marian House story.
Was it your first Christmas staying with us or adopting a family? Was it one of our 5K races or a tour? Here is your chance to tell us how we impacted you, your mother, your sister, your daughter, or friend as we worked to help over 3,700 women and children, and countless community members as we show up every day doing the work to create safe, sober, loving environments. We can’t wait to hear from you! Please email your story to [email protected]

Psalms Rojas, chief administrative officer at Marian House

Hope is often defined as having an expectation that something good can happen in the future. I’d be lying if I said that having hope is easy, because it’s not, at least not always.

Yet, I’m learning that to hope is not to pretend that the frustrations, challenges and disappointments don’t exist, but it is to acknowledge them and have hope despite, and in the midst, of them — that we can say: Yes, we grieve the lives lost to violence AND hold hope for a violence-free city through public health programs like Safe Streets Baltimore and Baltimore CeaseFire. We are frustrated by the numbers of unhoused citizens of Baltimore AND hold hope because of programs like HelpingUpMission, Project PLASE, Marian House, and many others who provide shelter for those without. We are disappointed that we are seemingly back to where we started with COVID cases surging in our city and beyond AND hold hope that one day this will be behind us and there will be relief especially for health care workers and others in the front lines. Our #city and its people are resilient. But maybe it’s too overwhelming to try to imagine a brighter future when everything around us seems hopeless — so just focus on today. Find a source of hope — be it a friend, a family member, in faith or in a faith community, or your favorite meal — find your “well” and draw from it. Wherever you find yourself today, there is hope for you.

Marian House is a transitional and permanent supportive housing program for homeless women and their children in Baltimore.

Full story here:

https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/columnists/bs-ed-mdz-0119-baltimore-prayer-online-20220119-2icgfde3e5amlj5najhuo2myaq-story.html

Celebrating 10 Years at Marian House!

Phyllis Ham-Middleton joined in 2011 as a caseworker in the Marian House II program. She later transitioned to the Marian House I program as a therapist in 2012. Then in 2018, she  became the Chief Program Officer for the Transitional Family Program and Permanent Housing Program and is a member of the leadership team at Marian House.

Lara McNeil, our Employment Coordinator, does an outstanding job of supporting the residents, getting them ready for the workplace, helping them with trainings and job searches, and reaching out to potential employers on behalf of the women.

One of the beloved House Managers, Liz Smith, also celebrates her 10^th anniversary at Marian House. Liz is an alumna and was part of the program from October 8, 2007, until October 2, 2008, and is forever grateful for how the program changed her life for the better.  She loves the women and wants to help them as much as she was helped during her time in the program.

Congratulations to Phyllis, Lara, and Liz. Thank you for your years of service at Marian House.

Help support the Marian House programs and make a donation today >

Resident Crab Feast     

The holidays are a great time to gather and this past Labor Day weekend, the residents of Marian House I, led by Geri F. and Tobina S., organized a crab feast with all the fixings. The residents pooled together their money, and along with a wonderful donation from former board chair, Tere Geckle, ordered

6 ½ bushels of crabs.  In addition, they had hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, chips and more. Tere also ordered special desserts from Classic Catering and had them delivered to top off the feast.

To make the day even better, the weather was perfect! We hope you also had a wonderful Labor Day Holiday. Our sincerest thanks to Tere Geckle for helping make the celebration a success!

Help support the Marian House programs and make a donation today >