Faith House

To better acquaint our members and the greater community with our grantees, we are highlighting some of the nonprofit organizations that have received WGC grant funds. This quarter, we reached out to Ashley Garland, Director of Faith House, to learn more about the organization's mission to provide support services to women in our community.

Please introduce yourself. What is your role at your organization and how long have you been with the organization?

My name is Ashley Garland. I began serving as the Director of Faith House in April of 2023.

What is the mission of the organization, and what personally moves you about that mission? Striving to change lives now and for eternity, the Rescue Mission rescues people from hunger, poverty, and substance abuse. At Faith House, we seek to bring hope and healing to women and women with children who are experiencing homelessness. Our mission and vision are the driving force behind what we do and why we serve.

Each Faith House resident knows first-hand what it is like to walk through trauma and be given a second chance in life - A chance to heal, rebuild, and rise from ashes to beauty. As a trauma survivor myself, I am beyond grateful to share with our residents that there is hope for the hopeless and rest for the weary. Each day at Faith House provides an opportunity for our women and children to experience what a restored and redeemed life looks like. Their sorrow may have endured for a night, but joy will come in the morning!

What are the most significant challenges that the organization is facing right now? What are the most significant challenges faced by the clients/populations that you serve? The current housing crisis leaves many women and women with children in our community searching for a safe place to rebuild their lives. Our list of applicants continues to grow, with 100 women currently approved and on the wait list, and another 70 in the process of being vetted.

Funding cuts for local childcare significantly impacts the families we serve, as our moms rely heavily on childcare scholarships to maintain employment. Childcare is essential for those not yet in school, and those requiring before and after school care.

What is the nature of the Giving Circle grant that you received in our last grant cycle, and what impact will it have on women and their dependents in Frederick?

Just as the Women’s Giving Circle’s objective is to empower Frederick County women experiencing challenging situations, Faith House empowers women experiencing homelessness by providing housing, career development, and trauma-informed care.

The impact of this grant provides women with 24/7 residential, wrap-around support, allowing them time to heal from trauma, and equipping them with the skills necessary to seek and maintain employment, secure stable housing, and build a resilient life. In addition to staffing and personnel costs, this grant ensures that we can provide the program materials, supplies, and equipment necessary for our residents to build a solid foundation emotionally, physically, and financially.

Do you have any specific stories that you can share with us that illustrate what you are doing in the community?

At the end of the school year, our Parent Support Coach organized a Summer Bash for the families at Faith House. Water balloons, relay races, and activities filled the yard. The air was filled with laughter, as moms enjoyed one another’s company, relishing in the joy on their children’s faces. Our volunteers provided a wonderful picnic. For one of the newest families, this was their first full meal together, since arriving at Faith House! They were incredibly blessed to have such a feast. Each child walked away with a bag full of summer fun – jump ropes, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, etc.

Shortly thereafter, one of our soon-to-be moms was given a baby shower. The Faith House team set up a “boutique” for the residents to shop for free and gift the mom-to-be with special items needed for her new bundle of joy! Our volunteers provided cupcakes and refreshments. Not only was the mom showered with gifts, she was showered with love by a new-found family, something she did not have before coming to Faith House. A week later, she delivered a healthy baby. This mom has since secured employment and is looking forward to life with her little one!

Is there anything further that members of the Giving Circle can do to help, in terms of volunteering, in-kind donations, etc?

With an increased number of women and children, household supplies like laundry detergent, dish detergent, hand soap, and cleaning products are always helpful. Additional items can be found on our Amazon Wishlist: Amazon.com.

We are always looking for volunteers to serve at Faith House! If you are interested, please contact our Program Coordinator, Carol Switzer at cswitzer@therescuemission.org to learn more about volunteer opportunities.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

We are incredibly grateful to have the Women’s Giving Circle as a partner. Your support is critical to ensuring the stability of many women and women with children in our community. Thank you for helping us change lives now and for eternity!