Annual Report 2023

A YEAR OF GROWTH

From future planning to remodels, to new hires and board members, 2023 was a year of growth for My Sister’s Place. Page 4

FINDING HOME: A RESIDENT’S STORY

One resident’s hope is restored as she finds new beginnings and a new home. Page 7

2023 At a Glance

52 WOMEN AND CHILDREN SERVED

99 DAYS AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY

MAINTAINED OR INCREASED INCOME

52

91 OF RESIDENTS WERE 13 YEARS OLD OR YOUNGER

86 EXITED TO PERMANENT HOUSING

15,303 MEALS PROVIDED TO RESIDENTS

Building the Boat

Dear Most Amazing Partners,

Not long ago, I was pondering a voicemail received at My Sister’s Place:

“Please help me. I just got kicked out of my apartment and I have nowhere to go. I don’t know what to do. My oldest will be 3 years old in June and my baby will be 1 year old in May. Do you have room for us?”

You could hear the panic and desperation in her voice. With a heavy heart, I was thinking about this call and many others just like it on my drive to work one day. We were turning women away every day due to a lack of available beds. In fact, by the end of 2023, we turned away 639 eligible women and children. My thoughts were interrupted by a voice on the radio singing “Your rain is coming… with Your wind in my sails…I’ll build a boat, so let it rain.” It was the song “Build a Boat” by Colton Dixon. I knew God was trying to tell me something through this song because it quickened my spirit, but I wasn’t sure what…exactly. Over the weeks that followed, I heard the song repeatedly and continued to pray for wisdom. Then God began to make it clear.

Much like Noah who, according to the Bible, took a step of faith and built a boat in preparation for flooding rain, God is calling me to begin the building process at My Sister’s Place in preparation for growth. This ministry is to help more women and children in need…of a place to stay and of restored hope. We have started our boat building, so to speak, and are excited about all that God is doing in preparation for the provisional rain!

What has building the boat and preparing for rain looked like?

More beds! A vacated room was turned into an additional shelter bedroom. Also, plans for 2024 include purchasing bunk beds that will increase our capacity to serve the most allowed by our Certificate of Occupancy.

More staff to care for more residents. It takes a strong team to give our residents the best support possible, so we hired administrative support, development coordination, and shelter management, filling each role with an expert in each respective area. As we grow, we will continue to recruit additional shelter staff to improve our ability to meet the individualized and complex needs of our residents.

Knowing our growing staff would need space to work, we maximized our current space by renovating to create much needed offices.

More residents mean we need a better database for keeping resident information, facilitating the intake process, and measuring program outcomes. After much research & training, we are excited to launch MissionTracker by May 2024. We are also enhancing our resident programs that foster spiritual and emotional growth and support long-term housing stability.

Our Board of Directors expanded to include new members with specialized gifts and talents that contribute to effective governance and support of the ministry. As Proverbs 11:4 says, “Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in an abundance of counselors there is victory.” We are grateful for the wisdom of this extraordinary group of men and women God has brought to My Sister’s Place.

Finally, we strengthened our practices and processes with our first full year of membership in the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. This accreditation allows for greater fiscal accountability so you can give with confidence, knowing the ministry of My Sister’s Place is committed to operating with excellence.

This summary and the pages that follow in this report are a brief snapshot of the work that’s been done at My Sister’s Place in efforts to ‘build the boat,’ but there is so much more to come. Thank you for coming along the journey with us and being a part of all that God is doing!

May God bless you abundantly,

Jennifer Bero Executive Director

A Year of Growth

WELCOME NEW TEAM MEMBERS

To meet our immediate needs and in anticipation of future growth, we welcomed three new staff members in 2023.

Letricia (Rena) Idleburg Shelter Manager

Although born and raised in Zion, Illinois (Go Zion ZeeBees!), Rena spent most of her social services career in Memphis, Tennessee. She has a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from the University of Memphis along with a Mental Health Certification. Her experience as a Case Manager and Case Manager Mentor for the Department of Children & Family Services, as well as years spent at shelters Restore Core, Room in the Inn, and Porter Leeath, give her a depth of knowledge uniquely suited to serving the women and children in our care. Her favorite thing about working with us is “The ladies. I love our residents and seeing them grow. They inspire me!”

Tricia LaGrange Executive Assistant Angie Brooks Development Coordinator

Tricia comes to My Sister’s Place with a bachelor’s degree in history and sociology, and over two decades of ministry experience. She has been involved with church planting, international missions, and administrative work in the private education sector. She is also a certified mental health coach. With this nuanced perspective as a guiding light, Tricia is thrilled to work alongside My Sister’s Place as we seek to transform lives in North Georgia. Her favorite thing about working with us is “watching the excitement of the ladies when they get to move forward!”

Newly planted in North Georgia, Tricia resides with her husband Nathan, and her youngest of four children.

Angie is happy to be back in her home state of Georgia after a decade of living in Northwest Arkansas where she was the Director of Volunteer Services for the NWA Children’s Shelter. Having earned a BFA in Music Theatre from Florida State University, she spent many years involved with the performing arts, as well as retail sales and trade show management. She is thrilled to once again be working in the non-profit sector. Her favorite thing about working at My Sister’s Place is “seeing the sincere love and dedication our board, staff, volunteers, and donors have for the women and children we serve.”

MAKING ROOM FOR GROWTH

A generous partner donated the use of a home that was designated as an offsite transitional housing unit for our shelter residents. This partnership allowed My Sister’s Place to renovate a vacated onsite unit into much needed offices for our growing team without losing transitional housing. Our beautiful new 1040 square foot space allows for staff to come together as a team onsite. Also, the new conference room gives our board committees plenty of room for their strategic planning sessions. In the evenings and on the weekends, it is also the perfect place for our residents to gather as a group for Bible studies and life skills training.

It’s not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow.

I Corinthians 3:7

My Sister’s Place is blessed to have an active, hard working board that provides strategic direction, oversight, and accountability. This diverse group of men and women meets regularly throughout the year to prayerfully consider our mission and God’s vision for the future. In 2023, our board grew significantly with the addition of eight (8) new members: Danielle Butler, Ron Cox, Beth Curry, Andreina Hernandez, Sandhi Kozsuch, Lynn Syfan, Lynnda Thomas & Ashleigh Thurmond. We are grateful to each of our board members for volunteering their time and sharing their expertise to advance the mission of My Sister’s Place.

Program Highlights

JOURNEY TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY

How does someone move from homelessness to housing independence? Once their basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter are met, our residents can focus on the goal of finding permanent housing. Soon after admission to MSP, program participants complete the Arizona Self-Sufficiency Matrix (ASSM), a research-based tool that assesses 19 domains of life that impact self-sufficiency. With help from a case manager or client advocate, ASSM results are used to identify areas of life where barriers exist, and individualized action plans are created to overcome those barriers and make positive changes. As they work towards their goals, our staff comes alongside to connect residents with community resources for healthcare, mental/behavioral health care, childcare assistance, transportation assistance, life skills training, long-term rent subsidy opportunities, and affordable housing. And it is working! In 2023, 91% of our residents exited our program into permanent housing.

SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT

“God doesn’t love me, or I wouldn’t be here.” One of our residents told us this when she arrived at MSP, weary from a hard season in her life that had ultimately led to homelessness. At MSP, our goal is to demonstrate the love of God, guided by the word of God. When we first opened our doors in 2000, our founder, Marty Owens, was moved with compassion to care for those who felt they had nowhere to turn and that perhaps God had forgotten them. For that reason, each week our residents are invited to attend a Bible study tailored to the unique circumstances they are facing. It is not uncommon to find one of our staff members praying with one of our residents during a difficult time she may be experiencing. We know that being rooted and grounded in the word of God gives hope during troubling times, and we are grateful to Pastor Cassandra Johnson, Alex Encarnacion, and City Church for their commitment to serving our ladies throughout the year.

FUN TIMES

Everyone needs to have a little fun now and then, and we are grateful for the opportunities our residents had to get out into the community and have fun! One such experience was a wonderful outing provided by the generous folks at New Hope Youth Ranch. Our kiddos had so much fun with the chickens, goats, horses, pigs, and fishing too!! This unique ranch features youth programs, using rescued horses to share the love of Jesus Christ with the community. The owners of New Hope Youth Ranch want everyone who visits to “find a peaceful place to enjoy God’s creation.” We are grateful to them for this beautiful and restorative adventure.

Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will also help you; I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 NASB

Resident Story

“You blessed me so much! You and God helped me put my life back together piece by piece. My Sister’s Place saved my life!” Tears were in her eyes as she revisited the transitional housing where she had lived with her grandkids. Memories were flooding in of a time when she was in shock over a betrayal that left her and her grandkids out on the street with nowhere to go.

Before coming to My Sister’s Place, Olivia’s* days had been hard. She was sixty-five years old and caring for her three grandchildren. Caught up in addiction, her daughter was not able to be the parent she needed to be, so Olivia stepped up and accepted custody while she prayed for her daughter’s recovery. She was doing her best to provide a stable, loving environment for these little ones, putting food on the table and a roof over their heads. Then suddenly, everything changed. She heard the teller say, “I’m sorry ma’am. You don’t have the funds to cover this.” She was shocked. How could this be? She was good with her money and always made sure she saved what she needed to pay her bills. After some investigating, she discovered her daughter had cleaned out her bank account. And her savings account. And somehow her daughter had even taken control of Olivia’s social security deposits. Terror filled her heart as she realized she would be kicked out of her home--the only safe place she had for herself and her grandkids. She had never experienced homelessness before. What on earth was she going to do?? Tragically, she ended up on the street trying desperately to care for three young children. It was then that she heard about a shelter in Gainesville called My Sister’s Place. Maybe they would have room for them. Mercifully, when she called, we had enough space for this

* Name changed to protect the identity of our resident

family of four. They moved in and our compassionate team of advocates went to work providing food, clothing, and most importantly, hope. She was given hope that her life could be restored, and she could continue providing for her beloved grandkids.

Over time, Olivia and her grandkids became like family to us. After staying in our shelter, they moved into one of our transitional apartments to allow more time to resolve these complicated financial issues. And then one day, she got the news she had been waiting for. She had been accepted to move into low-income housing. With the help of our partners, she moved into a 3-bedroom apartment with all that she needed for a fresh start. Because of your support, her hope – and a home for her family – were restored!

A SPECIAL SURPRISE

Another favorite outing happened during the busy holiday season. We could hardly believe it when we got the call: “Would the kids at My Sister’s Place want to go shopping at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Gainesville with Demone Harris?” Us: “Oh yes they would!!” Yes, you read that right. Demone Harris, the defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons took our kids Christmas shopping at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Gainesville. We are incredibly grateful for his generosity and kindness. He gave our kiddos a Christmas they will never forget! Special thanks to the BamFam Foundation for making this happen.

If you would like to donate a memorable experience for our residents, please contact Letricia (Rena) Idleburg at lidleburg@my-sisters-place.org.

Volunteer Reflections

Did you know that if we paid our volunteers for the work they did in 2023, it would have cost the shelter $58,153? Wow. That is a big number. All of us at My Sister’s Place are continually amazed at the dedication of our volunteers. You may have seen them mowing our lawn, delivering a meal, or meeting with one of our board committees. Motivated by a love for our residents and staff, collectively they gave over 1960 hours in 2023 in support of our mission.

Let us introduce you to one of those very special volunteers who has been with us since 2019. When Trudy Carter learned that help was needed at My Sister’s Place, she jumped into action like the volunteer superhero she is. She immediately began answering phones at the shelter, doing intake paperwork, grocery shopping, and preparing meals. It was hard work but for her, the hardest part was knowing we did not have enough beds to take every mom and child who reached out to us for help. Trudy remembers those conversations well. “They were down on their luck for a moment. Most of the ladies who called had jobs, but no place to stay.” It was heart-wrenching. She volunteered at the shelter for a couple of years and then started volunteering at My Sister’s Resale Boutique. The boutique was a better fit for her health and she’s been going strong there ever

since. Trudy loves meeting the people who donate their items to the boutique. She says the staff at the boutique is “one big happy family. We help each other. We know what the purpose is: to help fund the shelter so the shelter can help the ladies that come in there. My mama told me that God blesses those who help others. I don’t have much but my time and I’m willing to share it with others. My cup runneth over. It’s a joy to volunteer here. Everyone leaves with a smile. They always thank us, but it is them that we really appreciate. They could have gone somewhere else, but they chose us and we really appreciate it.” On behalf of all of us at My Sister’s Place and My Sister’s Resale Boutique, we want to say thank you, Trudy. You have given us your time, your love, and your humor. We are blessed to have you on our team!

Thank you for the countless number of donated items you have sorted, the phone calls and hard conversations you have had, and the organizing and reorganizing of clothes racks and pantries. All of it truly does matter. You have encouraged us beyond measure and only God knows the difference you have made. As the Apostle Paul said to the Philippian church, “I thank my God every time I remember you!”

Luane Thomson, Volunteer Coordinator

My Sister’s Resale Boutique:

130 John W Morrow Jr Pkwy Suite A Gainesville, GA 30501

Store Hours: Mon - Sat: 9:30am - 5:00pm

Donation Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 9:30am - 4:30pm

Questions? Call 678-971-4241

My Sister’s Resale Boutique

My Sister’s Resale Boutique is LOOKING

In April our landlord gave the exterior of our building a much-needed face-lift. The parking lot was repaved, a new roof was installed, and the building was pressure-washed and painted.

We also gained additional parking spaces along the woodline on the side. Later in the year, a very special team of volunteers from Flat Creek Baptist Church updated our interior space with new flooring in the restroom and dressing room for an even more inviting shopping experience.

Boutique sales in 2023 were even stronger than in 2022! We are grateful to everyone who shopped, donated, and volunteered to make this success possible. Along with more shoppers, 2023 brought more opportunities to minister to those in our community who are hurting. It is not uncommon for our boutique staff to encounter a customer struggling with no income or experiencing homelessness and looking for assistance. Our staff graciously assists them as they shop for items they

GOOD!

need like raincoats, shoes, or blankets. Recently, our Boutique Manager shared a story of a single woman with six kids coming into the store looking to find clothes for her kids because everything they had was damaged when their home flooded. She had not yet received funds from her insurance company and her kids needed clothes to wear right away. Our manager not only allowed her to shop free of charge for all the clothes they needed, but also let each of her kids pick out a stuffed animal so they could have some comfort during such a difficult time. When you support My Sister’s Resale Boutique, you not only help provide resources to the shelter residents of My Sister’s Place but also to countless other members of our Gainesville community in need of support.

Resident Story

In September, our staff took a call from Rachel*, a mom of 3 young children desperate for a fresh start. Having left a situation that was not safe for herself or her kids, they moved into a hotel room provided by a generous friend. Knowing this was a shortterm solution, she reached out to us to see if we had available space. Unfortunately, all our beds were full. Undeterred, she called back every week because she knew “God is sending me there.” She was certain My Sister’s Place was where she needed to be for the next part of her journey. Thankfully, we soon had room for this little family of four. Upon arrival, Rachel immediately went to work setting goals for herself. Seeking accountability, Rachel met with our Shelter Manager every week to ensure she stayed focused on overcoming any barriers keeping her from a better life for herself and her kids. Not long after her arrival, our staff shared with her that a local business was hiring. After updating her resume and visiting My Sister’s Resale Boutique for an interview outfit, she

* Name changed to protect the identity of our resident

Want to hear another incredible story of a former resident and her son? Use the QR Code to hear their story.

was ready to go. You can imagine our excitement when she walked into the kitchen waving the new hire paperwork in the air and announcing, “I got the job!!” This new job gave her the financial stability to purchase a reliable car. Not long after that, she was able to obtain permanent housing. With another trip to the boutique to collect household items, as well as the generous assistance of La-Z-Boy Furniture, she was able to furnish her new home, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the life of this precious family.

This story exemplifies the work we are doing every day to restore hope to women and children who have no other means of support. When the basic needs of food and shelter are being met, our residents can then focus on overcoming the obstacles they are facing. Our highly qualified team is here for them with guidance and assistance to push past these barriers so they can rebuild their lives.

Board of Directors

Dave Smith, Board Chair

Donna Stringer, Secretary

Cal Stowell, Treasurer

Polly Bennett

Danielle Butler

Ron Cox

Beth Curry

Anne Dittman

Judi Garofalo

Andreina Hernandez

Sandhi Kozsuch

Michele Rasmussen

Galen Reavis

Joseph Sherman

Lynn Syfan

Lynnda Thomas

Ashleigh Thurmond

Marty Owens, Director Emeritus

Evelyn Reynolds, Director Emeritus

Sylvia Stoltzfus, Director Emeritus

As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God. I Peter 4:10

Revenue In-Kind

Financial Summary

Thank You to Our Partners

As we reflect on another impactful year, all of us at My Sister’s Place want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for the generous contributions of our partners. To the many businesses, churches, organizations, and individuals who gave, we want you to know your contributions have been the wind in our sails, enabling us to provide a nurturing home for women and children facing the adversity of homelessness. Every

donation you’ve made has been a testament to your commitment to our cause, and it is with deep appreciation that we acknowledge your role in our journey. Your support has not only fueled our mission but also inspired a ripple effect of kindness and change. As we look forward to the future, we want to express our sincerest thanks for your continued belief in our work. Together, we are making a difference.

2023 Grantors

My Sister’s Place is debt-free and accredited by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). This year was our first full year of membership with the ECFA. Membership gives our donors and supporters the added trust of financial accountability and transparency so you can be confident your gifts and donations are being stewarded well. For more information, please visit ecfa.org.

Get Involved

GIVE

When you give to My Sister’s Place you are making a difference in the lives of the women and children we serve. Your donations allow us to provide them with a welcoming home, spiritual growth opportunities, community connections, and life-skills training to support their journey to housing independence.

VOLUNTEER

Volunteers are the backbone of our organization. From sorting donations to building maintenance and answering phone calls – the smallest of acts can make a big difference in restoring the lives of the women and children we serve.

SHOP

My Sister’s Place Resale Boutique is a high-quality thrift store and plays an integral part in supporting the women and children at our shelter. You can support our resale boutique by shopping, volunteering, or donating gently used clothing, accessories, and home décor.

PRAY

At MSP, we believe in the power of prayer. It has been our guiding force throughout the life of this organization. Please join us as we pray for…

• God to lead our ladies to jobs that will provide for them and their children

• Wisdom, discernment, and strength for our leadership and staff

• Financial provisions for our shelter and boutique operations to continue thriving and growing

• Hope-filled relationships between our ladies and God to be restored

• Guidance for our building and maintenance committee regarding our expansion

Save the Date for our

You don’t want to miss our 25th Anniversary Celebration featuring entertainment by a special guest celebrity!

We hope you will join us on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at the Ramsey Center at Lanier Technical College for this very special anniversary event.

Stay tuned to our website for tickets and more information at www.my-sisters-place.org.