www.the-papers.com
Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Serving Elkhart County and parts of Noble, LaGrange & Marshall Counties Know Your Neighbor. . . . . 2➤ Speak Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Good Neighbors . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Hunting & Fishing . . . . . . . . 6
Vol. 49 No. 24
Goshen (574) 534-2591
134 S. Main, Goshen, Indiana 46526
Goshen Interfaith Hospitality Network
serving the comm unit y fo r2 5y ea rs %\ -$60,1( 025(+($' 6WDII :ULWHU
Goshen Interfaith Hospitality Network has been serving Elkhart County for 25 years with shelter for families with minor age children and single women. Mindy Morehead the executive director of GIHN has been with the program for almost 13 years and shares the family dynamic does not have to be traditional to get help from the program. “We serve anyone with minor age children whether it be a single dad, mom, couple, grandparents it doesn’t matter their age as long as they have a minor age child under the age of 18 and then we serve single females as well,” Morehead said. She shared the shelter provides the guests with all the basic necessities such as meals, a bed, hygienic products, diapers, anything they could need. They also connect them with other organizations. “We get them connected with mental health services, med-
+(/3)8/ +($57 ³ *,+1 ([HFXWLYH 'LUHFWRU 0LQG\ 0RUHKHDG KHOS LQJ ZDWFK JXHVW +HUPLRQH %DJZHOO ZKLOH KHU PRP WDNHV D VPRNH EUHDN 3KRWR E\ -DVPLQH 0RUHKHDG
i c a l services, we partner with many other agencies including the Boys and Girls Club for the kids,” Morehead said. What makes GIHN different in her point of view largely has to do with the size of the shelter. “We are a smaller shelter so it feels like a family. We are a smaller staff so me being the executive director I’m not off limits to our guests and neither is my family,” Morehead said. Kylee Wertman, mother of three daughters and guest at the shelter for the past few weeks, agreed the shelter is a close group. “Here its all unity. I mean it’s all based on working together,” Wertman said. She discussed everyday she feels the shelter helps her to achieve new heights. “I feel like everyday I have growth and everyday I can talk to somebody and express what I’m going through and feeling,” Wertman said. The biggest thing she wants other mothers in the community to know is there’s a safe place to go if you need it. “It’s hard to get help when you need it. I hope other mothers get that message. You don’t have to stay in an abusive situation. There are people whowho won’t judge you and help you without taking your kids.” To give back to the community for all they have done to support the shelter, More-
/,67(1,1* ($56 ³ *,+1 ([HFXWLYH 'LUHFWRU 0LQG\ 0RUHKHDG OHIW OLVWHQLQJ WR JXHVW -DFNLH <XQNHU VKDUH VWRULHV RI KHU FKLOGKRRG 3KRWR E\ -DVPLQH 0RUHKHDG
h e a d has created an event to not only celebrate how long they have been in service, but also remind the community the shelter is thankful for the help. “We have a spaghetti dinner that is going to be on Sept. 30 where we are going to give back to the community. It’s a drive thru event from 5-7 p.m. they will be able to drive thru and get a to go container of spaghetti and garlic bread. So, just thanking them for supporting us for 25 years and Nov. 11 we have our big fundraiser. It will actually be our only fundraiser that we have done this year on our own. That will be at Bread and Chocolate. Details are still be completely worked out but we will have entertainment and dinner,” Morehead said. For more information, call (574) 534-2300 or go online to goshenihn.org/.
3$3(5:25. 3/$< ³ *RVKHQ ,QWHUIDLWK +RVSLWDOLW\ 1HWZRUN VWDII PHPEHU $P\ -DUYLV ZRUNLQJ ZLWK JXHVW .\OHH :HUWPDQ DQG KHU GDXJKWHU +HUPLRQH %DJ ZHOO RQ ÀOOLQJ RXW WKHLU SDSHUZRUN 3KRWR E\ -DVPLQH 0RUHKHDG