Women like Sierra can find love & security at Shirley's House of Hope

The holidays can be hard, especially for women like Sierra*. When families gather together to celebrate, she recalls how she longed for love and security but could never quite find it.

Throughout her childhood, as she struggled with relationships, Sierra felt misunderstood. She tried to please her mom, who was overworked, stressed, and exhausted. Sierra thought she had no one to depend on. "I always felt overlooked by friends and family. I felt trapped but always looked for a way to fit in."

Sierra started getting into trouble. At first, it was stealing and running with the wrong crowd. To feel a sense of belonging, she started bringing drugs to school. "I became whatever my friends wanted me to be. It just seemed easier that way."

By age 16, "I became addicted to sex, stealing, and violence. I was arrested multiple times. My mom gave up on me and checked me into a mental ward, then later, into a group home for troubled kids." But her drug addiction only escalated.

Sierra spent a year in drug rehab but still searched for love and security. She began using even stronger drugs. At her lowest point, she became suicidal.

Still trying to find acceptance, she became involved in many abusive relationships. Then she found out she was pregnant. Her mother told her to get an abortion, but Sierra could not live with that decision, and instead, called Shirley's House of Hope.

Women like Sierra can find love and security at Shirley's House of Hope that brings healing and transformation. Your generosity makes that possible. When you give, you invest in the lives of women like Sierra. You provide a place to rebuild, renew, and restore women who have been impacted by domestic and substance abuse.

Thanks to you, Shirley's House of Hope is celebrating 15 years of supporting women and children in crisis. Your generous gifts have helped us continue the work of restoration and healing.

When Sierra had nowhere else to turn, one phone call changed her life. At Shirley's House of Hope, she felt a sense of security and unconditional love. There, she participated in case management and classes to teach her how to build healthy relationships. The love and acceptance she has received from Kathy and the staff at Shirley's has brought hope and healing.

Now at age 22, Sierra has been substance-free for 8 months and hopes for a better future for her son. Community support groups like First Choice Pregnancy Center and Celebrate Recovery have been great resources and encouragement.

Your gift to Shirley's House of Hope impacts lives every day. Your generosity provides a Christ-Centered program to more women like Sierra. Your support helps change the direction of their lives. Your partnership helps to:

• Provide immediate shelter for women and children escaping domestic abuse
• Build trust and relationships in a nurturing environment
• Give women support to break the cycle of addiction
• And most importantly, share Christ's love with the brokenhearted

We can't thank you enough for your past support for healing women like Sierra. We ask that you give generously as we approach the year-end. Your gift helps provide hope to struggling women, "to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes" (Isaiah 61:3).

Because of His gift,

Julie Cravillion, Executive Director

Tammy Redetzke, Development Director

P.S. - You can make an even bigger impact by giving a gift of stock or assets from your donor-advised fund or IRA. Besides tax advantages for you, these giving options help sustain our efforts long-term. For more information, please contact Tammy Redetzke at tammy@shirleyshoh.org or call 715-305-4531.

*Sierra's name has been changed to protect anonymity