“Zelie’s Home is the gospel in action,” said Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost, addressing attendees at the sixth annual Embrace gala Sept. 19 at the Shoreby Club in Bratenahl.
Zelie’s Home is a nonprofit, caring community that empowers homeless pregnant and parenting women to take positive and effective action on behalf of themselves and their children. It has community-based living and provides physical, emotional, spiritual and professional support to help the women get back on their feet, setting them up for success. There are two locations: Therese’s Nest in Garfield Heights and Celine’s Nest in Lakewood. It is named after St. Zelie Martin, wife of St. Louis Martin and mother of St. Therese of Lisieux, known as the Little Flower.
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“Our story is still being written,” said Erin Hathaway, Zelie’s Home director. She said Zelie’s Home is marking its fifth anniversary as an independent facility. Originally established in 2009 as part of the Maggie’s Place, it was known as The Zechariah House and was located in Parma. After closing for renovations in 2016, operations resumed in 2018 in a new location in Garfield Heights, which increased capacity. A second home opened in Lakewood in 2023, adding additional capacity. Both homes often are at capacity with mothers and babies.
About 200 gala guests mingled for cocktails on the lakefront lawn before enjoying dinner, the program and raffles to support Zelie’s Home. Silent auction bids were accepted prior to and during the gala. There also was a 50/50 drawing, a wine pull, a grand raffle for a trip to Mexico and a paddle raise to generate operating funds for the homes.
Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, president of Franciscan University in Steubenville, gave the keynote. He shared the story of his father, who was adopted by a couple unable to have children. He also talked about an order of religious sisters in China who worked to help unmarried women and their babies. He said their work put the gospel of life into action.
Funds generated at the gala help provide for Zelie’s Home operations, including food, housing, life skills training for the women and things like car seats for the babies.
Guests also saw a brief video sharing the stories of a few Zelie’s Home residents and how the program helped them turn their lives around.
“We work to bring stability and love to the moms who come to us. We are grateful to all our benefactors who make our mission possible,” Hathaway said.
Learn more about Zelie’s Home here.