Fashioning Our Lives is a multi-week empowerment program where they learned new skills and the benefits of teamwork.
Highlights of the year include the continuation of Silk Creations, where a group of our women formulated a business plan, created, marketed, and sold 277 hand-painted silk scarves.
Letter from the Director
Dear Friends,
As a result of tough economic times, 2008 brought an unprecedented number of women and children seeking services to St. Margaret’s House. We saw people who had not visited in years. Women with very little were trying to make ends meet with less. In July, we helped the highest number of people in our history (2,274 visits, an avg. of over 100 people a day).
By the end of October of 2008, we had already served more people than all of 2007. Though we experience a 35% increase in the number of people seeking services in the second half of the year (averaging 100 people a day), for the entire year we experienced a 22% increase. Here are the numbers:
2007: 16,688 visits, avg. 67 a day
2008: 20,452 visits, avg. 82 a day
Through these tough times, we witnessed many reasons for hope. The women of St. Margaret’s House did not give up. For some, if they lost a job, they searched until they found a new one. Others took advantage of our parenting and Bridges Out of Poverty seminars. Many took steps forward through our case management program that is linked with other helping agencies through the Community Access Network. We are grateful to all who continue to support this vital work in tough
economic times.
Kathy Schneider, M. Div.
Executive Director
Recent Accomplishments
- » Number of Guest Visits: 20,452
- » Meals served (lunches & breakfasts): 24,542
- » Total served: 1,400 different adults, 425 different children
- » Visits to the Clothes Closet: 1,542
- » Bags of toiletries distributed: 1,893
- » Children supplied with backpacks and basic school supplies: 291
- » Adults received breast cancer education: 346
- » Adults received AIDS prevention education: 223
- » Participants in multi-session parenting education seminars: 129
- » Families served at the SMH Christmas Store: 221 (over 613 individuals)
- » New guests to St. Margaret's House: 431
- » Number of volunteer hours: 10,120
- » Number of volunteers: 125
Testimonials
"After taking parenting classes at St. Margaret's House, I got all my children together in one place and said to them, 'I want to apologize. I am very sorry for being an abusive parent to you all when you all were gorwing up and raising you to become an abusive parent to your children.' We did not need another generation of abusive parents in our family. I am now raising my nine-year-old grandson. I want to thank God for giving me a second chance for getting it right." —S. Barnes
"The women of St. Margaret's House have helped me to have faith in myself, an encouraged me to get a G.E.D., a job, and to overcome whatever obstacles I'm facing. When I walk in St. Margaret's House I feel loved and uplifted. St. Margaret's House is truly a powerful support system for the women in our community." —S. Crawford