Spotlight Story
Children find safety at Harbor House
"My kids just told me this morning that they haven't felt this safe and loved in a long time" - Mother staying at Harbor House
Earlier this year, Harbor House was bustling with 25 children, ranging in age from newborn to teenagers, staying in shelter with 11 moms.
With the shelter at full capacity, Keri McGregor, program director, says those times are both "amazing and bonkers" as staff try to balance meals, schooling, counseling and advocacy, all while making safety for each resident the top priority.
When one mother, who recently delivered a healthy baby despite being abused throughout her pregnancy, came to shelter, her older children had been taken by the abuser and were missing. After she learned the children had been found and were safe, Harbor House staff worked with her and DCF to unite the family at the shelter.
"This is an example of what our families have been through prior to coming into services and, sometimes, what we are working on with them in the first couple weeks," Keri says. "Many families have situations to resolve before we can even begin to address their goals and next steps. It's safety first with every single person."
If you prefer to mail a contribution, please make your check payable to Catholic Charities and mail to St. Joseph Pastoral Center, 437 N. Topeka St., Wichita, KS 67202.