A little history... 

In 1982, Mary's Shelter founder, Jan Lindsay, accepted a spiritual calling to begin a project creating a home for young pregnant women as an alternative to abortion. Through much prayer and determination, the first Mary’s Shelter opened in West St. Paul, Minnesota in 1983.

Jan's husband's job required relocation.  As they would move to a new location for work, Jan would open a new Mary's Shelter.  In 1994, the second Mary’s Shelter opened in Orange County, California.  This location was different in that it focused on serving minors ages 12 to 18.   In 1995, the third Mary’s Shelter opened in Berks County, Pennsylvania,  in 2006 the fourth Mary’s Shelter opened in Baldwin County, Alabama and the fifth Mary’s Shelter opened in Stuart, Florida in 2010.

Mary's Shelter Gulf Coast...

Mary's Shelter Gulf Coast opened its doors in the spring of 2006 to women who were homeless, pregnant and in danger of aborting their baby.  The shelter, and it's caring staff, provides a Christian family-style living environment and believe, "With God all things are possible.  Also in God's eyes no birth is an accident.  Every mother and her child has a purpose for their existence in His garden.  We are trying to help cultivate these flowers while staying out of His way."

The heart of Mary's Shelter Gulf Coast...

At Mary's Shelter, women are taught the value of God, country and community.  They learn life skills that are geared around respect, ownership and self responsibility.  The staff and volunteers at Mary's Shelter consists of a group of individuals that, without reservation, give their hearts and souls to help those who enter the shelter reach the goal of becoming independent, happy, healthy and productive. 

Ganelle  Campbell, Program Manager and Registered Nurse, is a long time resident of Clarke county.  Using her vocational experience in working with Searcy Hospital, hospice, Rebuilding Together and Mental Health, she offers a wide range of skills to benefit the women and children of Mary’s Shelter.  She oversees the Empower Me, Transitional Housing and Magnanimity Program.  Ganelle is a very empathic and caring nurse who manifests God’s grace in all that she does for the shelter. 

Kay Osborn is the counselor for Mary’s Shelter.  She is originally from Illinois and has been employed by domestic violence shelters, mental health centers, and an adjudicated camp for teenage girls.  She is a Licensed Practical Counselor in her field and has a loving and caring attitude that prevails in her dealings with the women.  She is a wonderful asset to the shelter and works with women in a cognitive behavioral approach to help solidify their ability to become self-sufficient.

Rebecca Connor, Administrator, has more than ten years of Administrative experience and has worked with organizations such as Grove Hill Geriatric hospital, Rebuilding Together, Boat People Sink or Swim (BPSOS), Gulf Coast Mediation Coaching and Consulting Services, and mental health.  She is originally from Illinois and has degrees from Southern Illinois University and Troy State where she majored in criminal justice and psychology.  Ms. Connor has lived in and raised her family in Alabama for the past thirty years.  She feels, "After losing three of my six children, that God has truly blessed me in helping to prevent the loss of babies through abortions, with my skills and God's guidance."

Because the women entering the shelter have been homeless, survival has been the main focus of their lives, and often enter the shelter scared, untrusting and always on guard.  The staff at the shelter tell the women, "You don't survive here, you live here." And they mean every word of it.  They want the women to feel part of a family that is working together to reach attainable goals. 

When women come to the shelter for assistance, they begin the process of healing.  Each woman has her own suite with a private bath and walk-in closet.  The kitchen, dining area (meals are served family-style) and living room are shared by all women.  They also have access to a resource room with computers, internet access and a telephone.  There is an indoor play area as well as a fenced in outdoor play yard for children.

The staff earnestly want the women to be successful when they leave the shelter and there programs in place to help them do so.  One is the Empower Me program.  It is a token-economy program that helps to teach the women to make informed decisions.  Each day, the women are given points for completing various activities on four levels.  The first activity of the day is the flag salute.  Completion is required to be eligible to receive points the remainder of the day and to move on to level one. If someone chooses to skip this activity, she is no longer eligible to receive points that day.  This teaches the women consequences of their decisions.

While residing at the shelter, our mothers acquire decision-making skills, develop self esteem, and learn how to be fiscally responsible. They continue their education and develop job skills; some may hold down jobs or attend school while residing at the Shelter. They receive the regular medical care they need. It is also mandatory that they undergo counseling by qualified counselors. In addition, the mothers are given the information they need to be able to make an informed decision regarding the future of their unborn child - whether to parent the child or consider adoption. Through family-style living, our moms learn how to resolve conflicts. They learn how to care for their children, for themselves and for their home. Each mother's program and progress are evaluated every three months.

Level two consists of earning points for participation, attendance, attitude and helpfulness in Health Education, Education, Vocation and Social Skills classes.  They also earn points for attending therapy and parenting groups.  Level three consists of GED, CEMP and Vocational classes as well as helping with Giveback.  Giveback is volunteering in things such as bake sales to teach the women the importance of community involvement and volunteering.  And at level four, the women receive points for self respect, accountability, ownership, leadership and helpfulness. 

Each activity, if completed, earns points that the women can use in the Empower Me store.  The store contains items such as clothing, self-care products, baby items and much more.  In addition, when larger items are donated to the shelter, such as furniture, the women can use points to purchase these items that will later be used when they leave the shelter.  This helps the women to feel empowered in that they can "purchase" their own items with points they have earned.

Following the birth of the baby, once the mother has found a job which will provide a living wage, she can choose to enter the Transitional Housing program.  Financial assistance and other support is provided for up to six months, hopefully at this time, the mother is in a position to assume complete responsibility for her family.

If you need help contact Mary's Shelter Gulf Coast at:

P.O. Box 18, Elberta, Alabama 36530

Call:  251.986.6200 or toll free 1.866.823.4674

E-mail:  maryssheltergulfcoast@gulftel.com

Website:  www.maryssheltergulfcoast.org

Mary's Shelter 10K Club - Saving two lives at a time.

By signing up for the 10K club, you'll know that your monthly donations provide stable, reliable funding toward the efforts to eliminate homelessness among pregnant women in Southern Alabama and Southwestern Florida.

Just a dollar a month, every month for a year doesn't seem like a lot, but the combined efforts of many can make a lasting impact.  To help Mary's Shelter reach their goal of 10,000 members, contact Becca or Melissa at 251.986.6351 or email at msdevelopment@gulftel.com.