Member Ray Bartels brought a project to our attention that aims to help a local charity to help local women in need.  Emmaus House is a home for women, especially women coming from jail, prison, or rehab. Their purpose is to provide the women with a family-like, Christian atmosphere while they are creating new lives for themselves. While they have no fixed time for their guests' stay at Emmaus, they provide a home until the women are able to be on their own.

Emmaus House receives no financial help from any governmental body, relying instead on public contributions from people like us. The staff are "missionaries" working without real salaries.  In a new project, they plan to remodel and renovate the 12 homes they own over the next 2 to 3 years, making them safer, energy efficient and more comfortable for their guests.  The average age of their homes is seventy nine years old. You can see from the pictures on their website that they remain in good repair, and this is due not only to the efforts of the Emmaus House organization, but because the women living in them take great pride in the upkeep of their homes and yards.  It is now time for some major repairs, thus the request for more funds.

They are asking for donations and to keep costs low, they plan to have the work performed by a mix of qualified volunteers, contractors and suppliers.  If this is a project you wish to support, you can make your checks out to "Emmaus House" and mail them to 733 South 14th St, Saginaw  MI  48601.

Also, you can help Emmaus House in other ways, including:  

Volunteer your services, expertise, or time (acting as receptionist, transporter, sorter of donations);

Collect items for them including food, household items, furniture, working appliances, or anything usable to help start a household;

Commit to praying for their women;

Tell others about Emmaus House's needs.