Help Keep Welcome House Open for Families in Need

My name is Helen, and I have the honor of serving on the board of directors for the Welcome House in Bismarck, North Dakota. Imagine being a parent with nowhere to turn, no roof over your children's heads, and no hope in sight. At the Welcome House, we provide a lifeline to families facing this heartbreaking reality. Our small family shelter, with just six bedrooms, offers a safe haven for families with children who are experiencing the toughest season of their lives. Here, they find not only shelter but also compassion, support, and a path to a brighter future.

We do more than just provide a place to stay. Our dedicated staff pour their hearts into their work, helping families secure permanent housing so they can find stability and security. We offer essential education in financial literacy and budgeting, empowering parents to take control of their finances and plan for a sustainable future. Our team assists in resume building and job searches, opening doors to new employment opportunities and giving families a renewed sense of purpose and hope. Additionally, we help families recover lost personal identification, such as birth certificates and Social Security cards, which are often lost in times of crisis. Each day, we witness the transformation of despair into hope, and with your support, we can continue to make these miracles happen.

If you walk into the Welcome House, you will see parents cooking supper together, a teen watching a movie in the living room, and kiddos playing in the backyard on the swing set. One day, I spoke with a mom in the kitchen who shared her story of being homeless in Bismarck for quite some time. Families at the Welcome House are responsible for various chores, including watering flowers, mowing the grass, washing dishes, and cleaning. She told me that until she moved in, she had forgotten what it was like to have a yard or even to clean off a dining room table. This made her long for a sense of normalcy and stability for her family again. I believe this is what makes the Welcome House so special—it is a place that looks and feels like a home. Here, families going through similar life challenges live together and create a supportive community that helps each other out.

Despite our best efforts, the Welcome House is facing severe financial challenges due to increased costs and the growing competitive nature of grant submissions. We are in dire need of funding to continue providing these essential services to our community. Without your support, we risk closing our doors and leaving many families without a safe place to stay. Every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference. Your generosity helps us stay in our home and provide vital resources to the families who depend on us. With your help, we can continue to offer hope and stability to those in need.

Please consider donating to the Welcome House. Your support means the world to us and to the families we serve. Together, we can make a lasting impact on our community and ensure that no family is left without a home.

Thank you for your kindness and generosity.

With gratitude,

Helen White

Board President

Welcome House, Inc