"I will not allow my life's light to be determined by the darkness around me." - Sojourner Truth, African American evangelist, abolitionist, women's rights activist and author who lived as a slave before escaping to freedom in 1826
HOBART – The ‘key’ to success at Sojourner Truth House in Gary is the dedicated staff, volunteers and supporters who have inspired hundreds of women to improve their lives over the past 25 years.
The symbol of that success is literally a key – the one that opens a new home and a new life for the woman who earns it through classes and training that lead to a job, an income and the means to stand on her own two feet.
For a quarter of a century, those keys have represented success at Sojourner Truth House, and those successes were celebrated at a fundraising luncheon on Sept. 18 at Avalon Manor.
“It’s enough to make me cry (with joy),” said retired Sister Joan Fisher, PHJC, co-founder of STH in 1997 after a study by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ and the Victory Noll sisters determined that at-risk women and children represented the greatest need in the Diocese of Gary. “You don’t make guesses like that, but we hoped in our hearts that Sojourner Truth House would continue this long and create all of this ministry work.”
In offering his congratulations for 25 years of serving and uplifting women and their children, Bishop Robert J. McClory praised the foresight of the late Bishop Emeritus Dale J. Melczek, who passed away less than a month earlier, in seeking the help of sisters serving the Diocese of Gary to meet the needs of Gary residents. “It is good to help others,” he noted in his invocation.
Sister Shirley Bell, PHJC, current provincial, recalled that the late Bishop Dale J. Melczek requested that the two religious orders “research the needs of the City of Gary and surrounding community and determine how we could make a difference,” resulting in the diocese turning over the former Holy Trinity rectory for the establishment of STH. “We cleaned, and cleaned and cleaned,” she said of the early days of STH.
She recalled establishing a “clothing closet” on the third floor, offices, a recreation/living room for mothers and children and, in the garage, a food pantry. Soon the growing clothing supplies were moved downstairs and the STH leadership requested and received the use of the former school gym, which they converted into intake offices, classrooms, a laundry, reception area, dayroom, computer room and a clinic. “Together, we made it happen,” Sister Shirley added.
Sister Joetta Huelsmann, the PHJC provincial when STH was opened, said the religious order, with Sister Joan then serving women and children at St. Mark parish in Gary, “knew it was an area really in need, and STH was a way to continue to help women find a job and get back on their feet” whether they were victims of domestic abuse, addiction, homelessness or a combination.
“The first classes we offered were computer classes to help women train for jobs,” Sister Joetta noted.
In addition to Sister Joan, the driving force behind STH was Sister Peg Spindler, CSA, the executive director of the women’s resource center for its first 24 years. “I’m thrilled that we’ve made it this far, that the tradition of service continues, and I love that there is such a crowd here today. All of Northwest Indiana has been involved in making this ministry work,” she said.
“I hope Sojourner Truth House keeps doing the same thing and even better,” added Sister Peg, recently elected to the leadership team of her order, the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Agnes, in Wisconsin. “To be responsive to the needs of women and children is in the DNA of the ministry, and I wish Angela (Bell, current executive director) and the crew all the best.”
Sister Shirley said the ministry is all about support, advocacy, building connections and continuing our service to women and their children,” including support for over 2,000 families and feeding over 15,000 people last year through its food pantry and community garden.
During the luncheon, a pledge fundraiser collected $6,375 for Santa’s Shop, a holiday initiative that provides a room full of clothing, decor and other gift items that STH clients can ‘buy’ for family and friends with coupons they earn by attending classes and participating in other activities.
Amanda Maynard, CFRE, director of development services for PHJC, announced the creation of a new Community Ambassadors for STH initiative planned for January, 2023 to increase volunteer support. An auxiliary group of women and men will be formed to promote “advocacy, awareness, fundraising and volunteering,” she said, much like the Women’s Aid group founded 19 years ago by Susan Cohen to host fundraising house parties for STH.
A spoken word performance by Jeremias Alicea, minister at Laurel Church, Merrillville, said, “The song that has been sung is one of community” when it comes to STH, and praised “Seeds planted, not taken for granted.”
“Continue working for the better, so we can stay together, Sojourner strong,” he concluded
Pastor Greg Lee of Suncrest Christian Church in St. John, a STH board member, presented the 2022 STH Spirit Award to Dr. Jodi Allen, a fellow STH board member and nurse practitioner program coordinator and assistant professor at Purdue University Northwest. Allen was honored for her continued dedication to the women’s ministry, where she brings students as part of their training.
“Some come back to serve after they graduate, because they see the need,” she noted. “It is my happy place and it soothes my soul to serve (at Sojourner Truth House).”