St Margaret's House

Lunch & breakfast program: St. Margaret's House provides the main meal of the day for all women seeking our services. We serve women and children who live 120% below the federal poverty line. Approximately 20% also choose to take advantage of the light continental breakfast that is available each day from 10:00 to 11:00 am. The noon meal is hot, balanced and nutritious. It is prepared and served as if this is the main meal of the day. For some, this is their only meal. We also provide showers, laundry facilities, computer access, toiletries as well as access to clothing and small household items. Individual case management and help with accessing other social service agencies is provided to help our guests through a single database and case management model.

Parenting: our parenting program provides caregivers an opportunity to learn positive ways to raise and discipline children. Through this program, we work to break the cycle of child abuse. The program teaches: knowledge of child development, active listening, stress reduction and using discipline to teach rather than punish. It also includes: the principles of positive affirmation, logical consequences, disciplining with love and time-out versus spanking are taught.

Art program: silk creations helps women to discover their gifts and talents and gives them tools to develop skills that will enable them to succeed in the workplace. It is an empowerment program that teaches women in poverty the process of painting on silk, creating one-of-a-kind hand painted pieces of art in the form of scarves, ties and cards to be sold to the public. Through this program women learn the rules of the workplace and gain skills in the decision-making, marketing, financial literacy, maintaining inventory and working as a team. The art program also includes an open studio once a week that is open to all guests of St. Margaret's House. These classes introduce art to a traditionally underserved population - women who live in poverty, suffer from mental illness and abuse.

Depreciation