Say cheese! House of Ruth Maryland gathers for a quarterly staff meeting.
Beyond THRIVING THRIVING SURVIVING
Julia* was in a cycle of uncertainty. She felt isolated. A Spanish-speaking immigrant navigating an unfamiliar country, she endured years of emotional and physical abuse. Julia ultimately turned to House of Ruth Maryland’s Highlandtown location. She was afraid to report the abuse she experienced due to concerns about her legal status, a lack of understanding about the resources available to her, and fear of her abusive husband. Her decision to contact House of Ruth Maryland changed the course of her path.
Our team immediately began connecting Julia with several programs that collaborated to provide support. A legal advocate helped her file for a protective order against her husband. While this process unfolded, she was enrolled in trauma-informed counseling and provided access to our food pantry.
The cross-collaboration between different programs allowed us to address Julia’s immediate needs while empowering her to make informed decisions about her future. As a result, she is on the path of rebuilding her life and securing stable employment. Julia is also in the process of applying for immigration relief—something she had never imagined was possible.
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EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LETTER
This year, our Spring Luncheon took on a new look. While the format of this annual event shifted to an evening entitled Sip, Savor, Support, it remained a source of learning and community. It is sometimes in the quiet after these events that we are reminded of our true purpose in House of Ruth Maryland’s work: everyone deserves to go home to a space that is peaceful, warm, and above all, safe.
To ensure this for all one day, it is vital to address intimate partner violence at its source. Sip, Savor, Support highlighted House of Ruth Maryland’s Training Institute and our Gateway Project, an abuse intervention program that teaches accountability and nonviolent relationship skills.
The healthy navigation of relationships is not something everyone has the luxury of being taught. However, it is never too late for someone to learn the skills necessary to choose peace with their loved ones. House of Ruth Maryland has now extended our Gateway services to a voluntary hotline. Gateway to Change is a 24/7, confidential number providing a judgement-free space for those who have been or fear they will be violent in their relationship. There is power in this self-choice. It works to remove a core barrier that victims and survivors of IPV face.
Your support, whether financial, through volunteer time, or even a social media share, is what propels our reach to those who need to know they have this choice. A choice that digs into the roots of IPV. A choice that helps create a safe home for all one day. Thank you for continuing this crucial work alongside us.
I also invite you to explore our most recent Annual Report. Inside, you will find detailed financial information, insights into each of our programs, and powerful stories from House of Ruth Maryland clients survivors who are now thriving. Please click here to view the report.
With appreciation,
Sandi Timmins, Executive Director House of Ruth Maryland
BOARDOFDIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
Pamela G. Colbert
VICE
PRESIDENT
Kappie Bogart
TREASURER
Steven M. Poynot
SECRETARY
Julie Hopkins
MEMBERS
Lawrence Baird
Meryl Burgin
Joyce Ann Burman
Pamela Colbert
Stephen Coldren
Victoria A Deyesu
David Diaz
Holly Griffin
Heather Harris
Brittany Harvin
Charvonne Holliday Nworu
Matthew Johnson
Tom Kazmierczak
Marty Lattman
Regina Lindsay
Laleh Malek
Pam Malester
Anamika Moore
Matthew Moore
Jeff Musgrove
Steven Poynot
Magnus Rhyu
Harry Swayne
Scott R Vogel
Pame
EXECUTI
Sand
VOLUNTEER VOLUNTEER CHRONICLES
Friendly Daughters of St. Patrick
Friendly Daughters helped make this Mother’s Day extra special for the mothers we serve at our shelter! For more than four years, FDSP has visited our shelter to conduct a gift-making workshop with kids to create homemade gifts and gift baskets for their mothers Packed with cute trinkets, self care and beauty supplies, creating these homemade gifts for their mothers lends a sense of empowerment to the kids. For the kids not able to attend the event, completed gift sets were made for them so that everyone had the opportunity to shower their mom with some extra love.
The Bunting Foundation
Long-time supporters of our work, the Bunting Foundation visited our Highlandtown location in May to assist with organizing and restocking the closet and pantry, both key resources for our clients in establishing independence Volunteers also participated in the experiential workshop, In Her Shoes This is a role-playing simulation in which participants walk through the life of someone experiencing IPV, making decisions and navigating systems
IT’SINTHENUMBERS
THANKS THANKS SPECIAL
To Lands’ End Hunt Valley for donating coats for clients via One Warm Coat
To Janet Garman at Lord Baltimore Cleaners in Glyndon organizing a clothing donation drive from their clients for Ruth's Closet in January
To Amazon MTN9 in Nottingham, MD and Amazon BWI5 in Baltimore, MD for their ongoing support: donating clothing, accessories, hygiene products, and nonperishable food
To AstraZeneca for assembling and donating 200 hygiene kits
To Weinberg Harris & Associates for donating 60 tickets for clients for various events at CFG Bank Arena
To Susan Naeny and Towson Methodist Church for donating a Valentine’s Day gift bag to every resident in Shelter
To Sephora for collecting and donating over $1,000 worth of non-perishable food and toiletries during Women’s History Month
To KCW Engineering for putting together beautiful spring baskets for every resident at Shelter
To Price Modern for donating over two dozen brand new chairs to Shelter
In FY24, we were honored to support 11,365 individuals, providing them with vital services that ensured their access to safety, support, and a path to healing. Nearly 85% of our funding directly supports our programs so that these numbers can be a reality. It’s all in our Annual Report.
Behind the statistics, though, are stories of new beginnings. There are women and children in homes, individuals championing their growth, legal wins, moments of hope.
Click
Explore our 2024 Annual Report
FUTURE FOR MARYLAND
TopGolf Baltimore June 19, 2025 | 6-9PM Get Your Tickets Here In Partnership with UA Local 486 Happening soon!
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AREYOUIN? ARE YOU IN?
We’ve always believed that ending intimate partner violence takes everyone: volunteers, corporate and community partners, and deeply committed staff.
This spring, our Development Coordinator, Justin, welcomed a group of volunteers from CareFirst BlueCross & BlueShield to organize our shelter library, creating an inviting space for clients and their children to go for literary inspiration and book loans (pictured left).
This kind of hands-on partnership reflects what we see every day: our staff giving their all to meet the urgent needs of survivors, while also offering education and intervention that can stop violence at its roots.
To sustain this work we must raise $20,000 before June 30. Stand with us now by making your donation today.
