100 Women Who Care support New Start Home with $10,000 donation
A new transitional home for victims of domestic violence is could open in the coming months and got a boost from female philanthropists.
At the April gathering for 100 Women Who Care, Mindi Swihart’s name was drawn to tell those gathered about a cause in which she believes. As a board member of New Start Home, a faith-based initiative to help women impacted by violence, Swihart told of how Michelle Barnett has felt called to start a home and has a goal of raising $250,000 to fund operations for the first 18 months. The $10,000 donation from 100 Women Who Care resulting from a resounding vote raises the total so far to $70,000.
Barnett, who was abused as both a child and adult, grew up with the mentality that she was at fault. “I expected that from men,” she said. A decade ago, that started to change when she found Crossroads Community Church and its Celebrate Recovery program to deal with what those in the program call “hurts, habits and hangups.” When she was baptized in 2014, she promised to help other women.
On a trip to Israel, provided by someone in the church, she experienced forgiveness for herself in the Encounter Chapel in Magdala, marking where a woman touched Jesus’ cloak and was healed. She then had a mission to open a home for women. In the following months, Barnett was able to buy a house for $25,000 in downtown Elkhart. A complete renovation is underway.
In its first phase, starting as early as this summer, five to seven women will live there after leaving a women’s shelter. Subsequent phases will provide for children and more women.
As they live there, the women will have basic needs met and take classes focused on job skills and navigating the community.
New Start Home is a ministry of Crossroads, though it is a separate non-profit. A fundraiser at the church is planned for Saturday, May 4. Tickets for a family-friendly trivia night are $15 each.
About 100 Women Who Care Elkhart County
In the summer of 2014, Jenny Welch and Sheila Terlep organized the 100 Women Who Care Elkhart County chapter, a gathering of local women who care deeply about Elkhart County and give generously to see their communities thrive. Throughout the last three years more than 200 women have given to the Elkhart County chapter to support local causes. The group has awarded more than $200,000 to local organizations serving Elkhart County residents.
The 100 Women Who Care is a component fund of the Community Foundation of Elkhart County. The Community Foundation partners with donors to leverage their philanthropy in ways that transform lives. Since 1989, Community Foundation has connected the generosity of donors with community needs by providing scholarship opportunities to local students and making grants to nonprofit organizations working to improve the quality of life in Elkhart County.
100 Women Who Care Elkhart County,www.100WomenWhoCareElkhart.com
You'll Also Love
100 Women Who Care awards $10,000 to Loveway Inc.