Leah’s House recently received monetary donations in the amount of $2,500.00 from Mt. Olive Holy Evangelistic Church (Bishop Raynor Wharton), $2,000.00 from the Rotary Club of Lexington Park, and a personal contribution of $1,000.00 from Deborah Rey, other organizations like the Republican Women of St. Mary’s County, the Optimist Club, Kohls Department Store, and the Lions Club, along with many other organizations and private citizens (too many to name) have made contributions/donations to help address the needs of those moving through the shelter. Recognizing the passion, hard work and commitment that the organization’s volunteers and staff have displayed in helping the community of St. Mary’s County, these organizations designated funds or other forms of assistance to help the shelter continue accomplishing its mission. While the shelter itself is in between major grant funding, receives no county government funding, or local state funding, these much needed funds will be used to assist Leah’s House in the sheltering of homeless women and children. Its founder Marguerite Morris states “We are at maximum capacity and in our five years of existing, I have never seen the volume of calls for assistance we are now receiving from homeless persons in the county. I ask the community to remember that it takes in excess of $14,000 a month to operate the shelter and without the support of groups and individuals like these I don’t know how we would make it” Morris also adds that if the community is wondering what ever happened to their $1 building. It is on site but about $35,000 in site work is still needed to place it into use”. In the interim, Compass Systems, under the direction of CEO Mark Pinekenstein, a local base contractor has generously provided temporary office space for the Leah’s House staff in its Great Mills Road location while construction logistics are worked out. The even better good news for the community is that Leah’s House recently received a commitment letter for a grant for construction only in the amount of $28,000 from the Home Builder’s Care Foundation. The potential grant comes with requirements, a match in operating funds of $28,000 and an initial cash reserve/commitment to the construction project alone in the amount of $7,000.00. Morris says that the $7,000.00 is the hardest because it is over and above their day to day operating funds. “When you are already strapped for cash it’s hard to come up with an extra $7,000.00, but I think the community will come through, as it has before, to keep a worthwhile project going that will enhance our ability to help others in need” In these hard times we need continuous support. For more information call 301-994-9580 or to make a much needed monetary donation visit the organizations website at (www.Leahshousemd.org).
