Board of Directors
Left to right: Ted Darby, Patrick Cottrill, Carrie Cottrill, Doug Glenning, april glenning, monica folwaczny, casey solomon
Magnolia House Ministries began as a vision when the Cottrill family adopted children through the foster care system, witnessing firsthand the struggles many of the single moms involved with foster care experience. While there was transitional housing for single women who struggled with substance abuse and other specific needs, there was no program in the area for women who simply needed a stable place to keep their family together while working on their goals to become financially stable. Magnolia House Ministries provides a place for women at risk of homelessness to live, while learning valuable life skills and the life-changing love of Christ. A defining experience through leading Safe Families for Children was a significant piece to leading the Cottrill’s in moving forward to opening a transitional living facility. The Cottrill’s saw the need for reliable transitional housing for single women through their involvement. They noticed the children were being cared for through the program, but often the women coming to Safe Families did not have a place to live themselves. Even if the women had the desire to reunite her family and provide future care for her children, without a stable home, this reality was a distant dream.
Even the name for the organization is personal and rooted in love. It was inspired by the loving relationship Carrie witnessed between her grandparents. Check “Where did the name originate from?” blog post to read Carrie’s personal story of how this relationship inspired her and the organization.
Through Safe Families for Children and meeting others with the same concern for keeping families together, The Cottrill’s met the Darby’s who had also adopted and knew the need in helping single moms through ministering to them. They provided a town home that housed one family at a time for MHM to use until a larger facility was found. They also met David Stevens, one of the original board members, who attended a church that had a facility as well as a farmhouse that was not being used. Through that connection, MHM was able to move onto the property affording the ability to serve more families.
The board and volunteers realized by providing the single women opportunities to learn skills such as time management, interview skills, and financial planning, while in a secure living situation, she could continue to care for her family in the future without the fear of separation. They believed with loving and supportive help, rooted in the love and teachings of Christ, women could be guided towards stable independence for themselves and their families.
Magnolia House Ministries acquired their incorporation in the spring of 2017, and received their official 501c3 status in February of 2018.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JHKyGIvKcYMpJfqLS_0Z3NK9wPEvbY-v/view?usp=sharing
Magnolia House Ministries 