ANNUAL REPORT 2015

hopeMore than help –

Faces OF RUTH’S HOUSE

A team of students refinished our wheelchair ramp.

District One leaders

Faribault Middle School students collected donations.

“The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller

This quote signifies the beauty which engulfs the extraordinary happenings of Ruth’s House.

Everyday hearts of the women and children we serve are moved and transformed as they travel the difficult road of healing from traumatic situations. These residents become empowered through divine moments as they journey through life-changing decisions with the crucial support of Ruth’s House staff, volunteers and contributors. Their spirits become alive in ways they never thought possible. We have seen incredible transformations, renewals and transitions in our neighbors’ lives because you care.

Your contributions have made it possible for a woman to first seek refuge in Ruth’s House Transitional Shelter. Not only shelter … safety.

Your contributions have empowered women to make life- changing decisions and to move forward in traumatic situations. Not only help … hope.

Your contributions help make change in our community through life-giving support from dedicated staff. Not only change … growth.

And your contributions provide safe shelter in a healing environment to women and children who are homeless. Not only a house … a home.

Thank you for your generous gifts which empower lives! Thank you for all your support which offers hope, ensuring we live together in community where everyone has a safe place to call home.

With gratitude and faith,

Ruth Hickey Executive Director

Dear friends,

WHAT IS Ruth’s House?

TRANSITIONAL SHELTER

Located in a 3-story home, we can accommodate 27 individuals at a time.

SUPPORTIVE HOUSING

For families struggling with chronic or repeated homelessness due to a disability in the family, 10 off-site units of long-term, supportive housing are available. The units are located throughout Northfield and Faribault and are entirely HUD-funded.

CASE MANAGEMENT

setting goals, addressing barriers, celebrating

successes and providing crisis intervention

WEEKLY PROGRAMS

life skills education, such as parenting, stress management, self-care and

healthy communication (offered at the shelter with childcare provided)

RESOURCES AND REFERRALS

connection to community resources such as HOPE Center, the Workforce Center, Social

Services or HealthFinders, and access to other resources, including advocacy, transitional shelter resources and 24-hour staff support

FOOD AND BASIC NEEDS

such as clothing, household items, diapers

and personal care

SAFE SHELTER

on campus or income-based rent with

Ruth’s House as the leaseholder

MISSION STATEMENT

Empowering lives, offering hope through transitional housing and support.

RUTH’S HOUSE HISTORY

In 2004, Ruth’s House opened in response to an unmet need for safe shelter for homeless women and children in Rice County. A group of women called “The Founding Mothers” gathered together with a vision, and less than a year later Ruth’s House — named after the Biblical Ruth — opened its doors in Faribault. Since opening, over 1,200 women and their children have been served.

2015–2016 BOARD OF DIRECTORSCharlie Sheridan, Chairperson

Heather Robins, Secretary

Sandra Gerdes, Treasurer

Bishop Steven Delzer (emeritus)

Pat Johnson

Pastor Sarah Nietz

Kathy Tonolli

Susan Smalling, PhD

Krista Bahnsen

Joyce Elsen

RUTH’S HOUSE STAFFRuth Hickey, Executive Director

Sherri Snow, Lead SHP Case Manager

Amy Day, Senior Case Manager

Jennifer Sorg, Program Coordinator/Case

Manager

Suzzanne Fox, Operations Manager

Mayra Rocha, Family Advocate

Angie Hennes, Family Advocate

Wendy Swanson, Family Advocate

Melissa Wencl, Family Advocate

Desiree Caballero, Development Assistant

2015 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

LEARNING CENTER

HOURS

7,000

4,000

$40,000

11033

Ruth’s House Emergency and Transitional Shelter

provided overnights of safe, comfortable shelter to

individuals.

homeless women and children representing a diversity of cultural backgrounds, including Caucasian, African American, Latino, American Indian and Sudanese.

Ruth’s House off-campus Supportive Housing Program provided shelter

and support for an additional

Ruth’s House opened its

at the Transitional Shelter,

a dedicated space for the children and mothers at Ruth’s House to learn and grow together.

The new Learning Center promotes healthy development and life skills for children and their parents with various games and activities, while also encouraging family bonding. Children participating in these programs will have a greater chance of educational success and future stability. The Learning Center has also provided a wonderful space for therapists to meet with children on-site.

Volunteers donated over

We received over

of their time, helping with fundraising events, administrative duties, transportation and childcare for residents, IT assistance, house repairs, and marketing/program development and implementation.

of in-kind donations from hundreds of individuals and several local groups and organizations.

A Supportive Housing resident recently shared her story. At the age of 20 she became addicted to drugs. Three years later, she literally lost everything. Her children were removed from her home by Child Protective Services and everything went downhill from there. She tried numerous treatments but had lost the will to fight. She writes:

“It’s been almost three years since I first walked through Ruth’s House doors feeling just hopeless and helpless. Today because of the assistance that this program has provided me, I have stable and affordable housing. I have reached so many goals that I thought were impossible to obtain. I have both my oldest and youngest son back, I’m still sober, I got my driver’s license back, I am still gainfully employed at the same job and I am going to school to be a chemical dependency counselor!”

—CN

IN HER Own Words

THANK YOU!

Dedicated volunteers like Sally Kramer enable us to direct more of our dollars to programming and services.

12 Months Ended December 31, 2015

INCOME

Donations $78,014

Fundraising $71,153

Grants $126,700

Other $21,524

HUD Program $179,990

Total Income $477,381

EXPENSE

Administration $12,153

Payroll $250,252

Programming/Operations $160,152

Other $7,562

Total Expense $430,119

NET INCOME $47,261

IN Memory

CONTACT US FINANCIALS STAY IN TOUCHRuth’s House219 Fourth Avenue NWFaribault, MN 55021

MAIN PHONE 507-332-2236

OUTREACH OFFICE 507-334-5043

FAX 507-334-2487

ONLINE ruthshouseofhope@yahoo.com ruthshousemn.org

FIND US ON FACEBOOKfacebook.com/ruthshouseofhope

In loving memory of Pastor Sarah Nietz, a dear friend and Ruth’s House Board Member, who passed on August 24, 2016. Pastor Sarah will always be remembered for her graciousness and dedication to the mission and families of Ruth’s House.

ANGELS $2,500+

The CarlandersDepartment of Human ServicesEvangelical Lutheran Church in

AmericaMariann and Ron GoettschVicki and Howard Groff

Mardag FoundationNorthfield Area United WayOpen Your Heart FoundationOtto Bremer FoundationOur Savior’s Lutheran ChurchDoug and Catherine Ruegsegger

Suzy’s Smile Shines Golf Tournament

United Way of FaribaultThe Woman’s Club of

MinneapolisXcel Energy

GUARDIANS $1,000–$2,499

ABC Business CompaniesBarbara AckermanJulia BongersHarry and Lanaya BrownRuth Blann CartledgeCatholic Community FoundationIllinois Tool Works FoundationDouglas and Kathleen Knutson

Little Prairie United Methodist Church

Evelyn J. MatejcekNorthfield HospitalLynn and Mike PohlmanCharles and Gail SheridanSoutheastern Minnesota Synod

Women of the ELCA

Janet and Rueben TangrenThrivent Financial – North Rice

County ChapterUnited Way of America –

Emergency Food & Shelter Prog.Vance and Barbara VinarWomen in Northfield Giving

Support

HEALERS $500–$999

Diana and Mark AbbottAllina Health SystemBethel Lutheran ChurchBethel Lutheran Church WomenBlooming Grove United

Methodist ChurchRandy and Michelle CreasmanDorothy and Jeffrey Jarvis DejongMary DonahueEdina Realty FoundationFaribault National Guard ArmoryMike and Eva GramseDennis and Janet Hahn

Harry Brown’sRuth and Herb HickeyPatricia JohnsonJust Food Co-opAsha KnishRobert and Katharine KuyperLakelanders Barbershop ChorusDerek and Carolyn MelbyNorthfield Rotary ClubNorthfield SertomaPremier Bank MinnesotaRandolph Baptist ChurchRon and Deborah Seger

St. Dominic Catholic ChurchState Bank of FaribaultBrian StocklandThomson ReutersThrivent Choice ProgramThrivent Financial South Rice

County ChapterMichael and Sheila ThyenKathy and David TonolliTrinity Lutheran ChurchNyla and Lawrence WilleGrant WilsonJulie and Philip Zweber

VISIONARIES $250–$499

A & J Self Storage LLCAngell’s ImagesCarol and David BeranekBEVCOMM, Inc.Boldt Funeral HomeCannon River Conference –

Project NeighborChrist United Methodist ChurchSharon and Harry DellTim and Julie Donahue

Donahue’s GreenhouseJoyce and Rick ElsenE. David and Mary Ann EmeryArthur and Carolynn EvansFaribo Sno Go ClubCheryl and Benet FreundTom and Cassie GerbigGrace Lutheran ChurchEllen HaefnerHope United Methodist Church

Gladys JohnsonKeith KendallKenneth and Kristine KuhnLawrence and Liselotte MalechaMinnesota Community

FoundationMRG Tool and DieDean NelsonRandy’s Frozen MeatsSteve and Shelly Robinson

Donors A heartfelt thank you to all the individuals and organizations who have contributed to our work and supported our mission. We couldn’t do it without you!

Saint-Gobain Corporation Foundation

Sertoma Club of FaribaultSt. John’s United Church of

Christ

Edna ThayerTed and Corrine ThompsonTruistJeanne and John Ullian

Western National Mutual Insurance Company

Whispers of HopeMark and Mary Zentner

ADVOCATES $100–$249

Barry AdamsLinda and Craig AmanCarol AndersonClarence and Vivian AndersonDavid and Chris AngellApple Chevrolet Buick

NorthfieldMarian BahlLoren and Marlene BalkenMyrna and Gerald BauerJames and Linda BeckerMary BenoitCindy and Franz BoelterChuck and Lori BoyleSteve and Maureen BrandMike and Denese BremerScott BrownSteven and Rebecca BrownCharlotte and William CarlsonCartridges for Kids – Access

ComputersDonna CashinJorma and Eva CavaleriCatherine ChangDeborah and Rodney

ChristensenKaren and Larry ChurchillLois Donahue ClearyMildred CookCouncil of Catholic Women –

St. Patrick’sWilliam and Loraine CowlesJoanne and John CrossJennifer DavidRichard DeBeauMike and Ann DeGroodMarsha DeGrootSteve and Donita DelzerDan and Cahrene DimickDivine Mercy Catholic ChurchHenry DoyleBahgat and Brenda ElsagherKimberly ElsenKatherine EricksonRoger EricksonFaribault Animal CenterFederated Mutual Insurance Co.Richard and Joyce FetteJarid and Jill FinstuenJill and Scott Finstuen

Firehouse LiquorFirst Evangelical Lutheran

ChurchJames and Michelle FosterMary FransenFraternal Order of Eagles –

Ladies AuxiliaryMary FrazierPatti and James FritzMarian FruechteDavid and Sharon GeyerMark GleasonGol Lutheran ChurchDennis and Kim HalvorsonDale and M. L. HamiltonHannah Circle – St. Peter’s

Lutheran ChurchHarlow HansonTim HartiganKarl HellaJames HermelPaul and Patricia HickeyDwight and Ruth HildebrandtMichael and Paula HildebrandtRichard and Jennifer HillesheimHolden WELCAHomeTown Credit UnionBill and Judith HuckInternational Festival FaribaultRon and Paulette JamesonStephanie JohnsonWarren Johnson, DDSDale and Theresa KelmPaul and Michelle KelmKGP LogisticsKiwanis Club of Faribault –

Golden KAnna KuxhausenGeno LarsonKeith and Karen LarsonDavid and Judy LeeGlenn and Carolyn LindroosDenny and LaVonne LoerchTim and Wendie MadiganMartin and Mary Jo MalechaMarion and Joan MastAmy McCartyTammy and Roger MeyerTerrance and Sherri MillerMoose Lodge #2098

Debbie and Daniel MoriarityJoan and Tom NelsonLorraine NelsonMarilyn and Thomas NeuvilleJoseph William NiermannAdelle OlsonLarry and Mary OlsonLarry E. OlsonMaynard and Idamae PitanAnn PribylDaniel and Karen RasmussenReliance BankJanet RiachPete and Kandi RobertsSheila RoehrickThomas and Linda SammonMardell SauffererMarilyn and Charles SchemaKevin and Kim SchmidtMarv and Sara SchraderElmer SchulzSeneca Foods CorporationDonna and Dick SmithJaci and Jerry SmithCarol and Myron SolidSt. John’s Lutheran ChurchJeff and Julie StahlNadine and Bill SteeleJudy and Roger StoreyLouise StranskySusan and Richard StreseLarry and Debbie TaghonVictoria TeichUnited Methodist Women –

Fourth Avenue UMCRichard and Marlene VanasekRosalie VandevoortVang Lutheran WELCAKarl and Ann VohsDoug and Barb WertishVirginia WilleMolly and Bill WoehrlinAmy and James WolfRay and Linda WoodRebecca ZachariasJoan and Daniel Zielske

FAMILY FRIENDS $1–$99

Melissa AllenJames and Kymn AndersonJerry and Mary AndersonJohn AntramWilliam and Mary BleckwehlDarwin and Margaret BlumeArvid and Gloria BoyumMarion BrakkeCandice BraunJean and Keith BrazilThomas BriceBelva BrownSteve and Karen BurgerBurkhartzmeyer ShoesDon BurkhartzmeyerVernon and Esther BuschoLinda and Ken ButzowC Ryan Sales, Inc.Susan CabotMarcia ChristensenAlbert CisnerosSandra and Joel ClarkHub and Diane CloeterGregory ColbyJohn and Shirley CurrieJoan and Tom DeeVic and Carol DeGroodChristine DellwoCynthia DiessnerIva DodsonAmy and Matt DrenthJoan DrenthJanet DrewitzCarolyn DuffneyMilo and Helen EdelAmy ElsenC. A. ElsenLaurie ElsenRobert and Rosemarie ElwoodJason and Lisa EngbrechtJim and Lynn EnnisMary and Daryl EvansFaribault Area Retired EducatorsFirst United Church of ChristWanda FranckJodine FriedowCarolyn FritzWalter and Kathy FritzEric and Carolyn Fure-SlocumSandra GerdesRon and Carol GernandtMichael and Cindy GilbertsonMichael GoblirschConstance GormanLuverne and Carol HafemeyerMarian Hagel

Christopher and Jennifer HalletSteve and Barb HalletMargaret J. HansonDiane HelgersonDave and Diana HeringRobert and Jeanette HetzlerBetty HoffmanGary and Cynthia HogansonBruce and Bev HogyRoger and Florence HohnstadtMarilyn and Richard HoraGaylord and Evelyn HorwathCarson HrubyKen and Vicky HubertMarlys M. HudsonKlaus and Donna JacobWade and Barbara KarliDennis KenisonKenyon Better Halves Home

Extension GroupJoni KildeJim and Karen KittlesenPatrick and Dawn KlineBuzz and Nancy KornmannReuben and Arlet KvidtTom and Ann Dee LarkinDick and Cindy LawsonMichael and Diane LienBarbara LonienVirgil and Jane LuehrsDonna and Lloyd LundLWML – Owatonna Conf. –

Faribault ZoneLWML – Trinity Lutheran –

NorthfieldLWML/W.I.M. – Trinity Luth.

ChurchChristine MadsonMain Street Moravian ChurchKevin MaringLori and Todd MarkmanSteve and Mary MarquardEdith and John MattsonJoan McCutcheonMercury MinnesotaJulie and John MitchellLinda MitchellMichael and Judy MolloyMary MoodyRay and Ginger MyersMarilyn NasethMary NiermannNorthfield United Methodist

ChurchChristopher and Ann OakesSherman and Kathleen Ogle

Amy OlsonJanice PaschkeJon PentonDan and Patricia PflaumChristian PipersLyle and Valera PoockRamona PumperJacob QuantHarold and Georgia RedmanBonnie and Robert ReinekeJeffrey and Robin ReinekeMadgelena and Michael RelyeaRetired Eagles Activities ClubBret and Sue RiedelLeslie RiesingGinny RobicheauHeather RobinsKent and Terri RossPaul RuePam RuthsSusan SandersonSandy Flom, CPA, CFPBernadette ScharpenDuane and Diane SchlobohmBrad and Lisa SchmitzDavid and Jean SeppeltJerry and Janet SilkeyJim and Sherri SnowSharon SommersRobert SpeckhalsDan and Linda StadlerRebecca and Steven StaplesNick and Vicky StonemanMarlys StuhrkThe Thrifty Parrot LLCJan ThielbarKevin and Stephany ThurnauDrew and Sheryl TinagliaTrinity Ladies AidLambert Van HarenKathy VangRuth VettrusFerdinand and June VolkertConnie VoltzKathy WestDuane and Patricia WhiteLois WilkensRoger and Marge WilkowskeJonie Williams Women of ELCA – St. John’s

Lutheran ChurchWomen of the Moose Chapter

#1476Kim and Thomas ZensenMary and Mark ZieglerSteve and Joy Zimmerman

RUTH

’S H

OU

SE21

9 Fo

urth

Ave

nue

NW

Fari

baul

t, M

N 5

5021

NIG

HTS

7,000

Beca

use

of y

our

supp

ort a

nd c

ontr

ibut

ions

, la

st y

ear w

e w

ere

able

to p

rovi

de o

ver

of s

afe

shel

ter t

o ho

mel

ess

wom

en a

nd c

hild

ren.

NO

NPR

OFI

T O

RGU

.S. P

OST

AG

EPA

IDFA

RIBA

ULT

, MN

PERM

IT N

O. 2

7