In the last year, employees of Ameristar Casino of East Chicago have made several generous donations to Sojourner Truth House in support of those experiencing homelessness in Lake County. In November 2023, employees chose to donate their Thanksgiving gift certificates to STH clients in need, which totaled $620 and helped many families during the holiday season. Ameristar also supported the 25^th annual Walk for STH in June of this year with a sponsorship of $2,500 continuing a tradition of supporting many Walk events over the years.

Employees recently made another generous donation – 120 beautiful roller suitcases valued at over $2,000. When women and families come to STH from local homeless shelters, or off the streets, they’re often fleeing desperate situations – domestic violence, fires, evictions – and have nothing in which to carry their possessions other than plastic grocery bags. This gift of suitcases will help protect the possessions of 120 STH clients (and their families) and provide them with a sense of safety and security as they work to overcome their circumstances and exit homelessness.

Christina Herrera, Vice President of Casino Operations said, “We are honored to partner with Sojourner Truth House as they follow their mission in helping at-risk women and children. Many of their values align with ours at Ameristar, helping our communities and those that live within it. We saw this as a perfect opportunity to help where there is a need.”

Christina Herrara, Vice President of Casino Operations, with staff as they donate 120 suitcases:

STH Head of Facilities, Jeremaine, loads suitcases to bring back to Sojourner Truth House clients

Lisa Kerman is a doer. When she found out that her church, Suncrest Christian Church, has a volunteer worship team that serves each month at Sojourner Truth House, she immediately got involved.

“We do anything STH may need extra hands with—food pantry organizing, setting up for holiday events, gardening, just whatever their need is, we show up to assist,” Lisa explains. “I am blown away by the depth of what STH provides not just for the community but for the future of the women and children who need it most. This is such an incredible community of HUGE HEARTS! Every single person that I’ve met through STH has impressed me with their level of compassion, and caring about doing the right thing for all who may need assistance and just being kind along the way.”

While she loves giving her time, Lisa chose to do more. She became a monthly giver through STH’s Saint Katharina’s Calendar Club. “As a member of Suncrest, we believe in ‘next steps’ on our own individual journeys in our faith,” she says. “THIS was part of my NEXT STEP. Volunteering at STH was no longer just enough for me —I wanted to expand on what I could give, and it hopefully won’t just stop there!”

Thank you, Lisa! You can be part of this community of HUGE HEARTS, too— be a monthly giver like Lisa. Visit sojournertruthhouse.org/monthly-giving

GARY, IN – Community Ambassadors for Sojourner Truth House (STH) seeks partners for the 5 Loaves and 2 Fish initiative, which collects food and essential personal items to supplement the services offered by STH’s pantry, Lake County’s largest.

The program was conceived by Sharon Kenning, Community Ambassador for STH and dedicated volunteer. With a deep commitment to supporting those in need, Kenning recognized the importance of addressing not only food insecurity but also the lack of access to basic personal care items among individuals and families facing difficult circumstances.

“5 Loaves and 2 Fish was started to ensure that additional food items are coming into the STH pantry on a weekly basis,” said Kenning. “People are not at their best when they are worried about feeding their children or where their next meal will come from. Better food means better health and a better community.”

Kristy Olsen, STH’s community resource supervisor who oversees the food pantry, shared her excitement about expanding the 5 Loaves and 2 Fish Pantry Drive to more community partners.

 “What began as a food-focused initiative has now grown into a comprehensive effort to provide holistic support to those facing difficult circumstances,” Olsen said.

The 5 Loaves and 2 Fish Pantry Drive invites individuals, organizations, churches, schools, and community groups to participate by organizing donation efforts within their respective communities. Participants are encouraged to collect shelf-stable food like canned tuna, pasta, peanut butter, rice, and personal items such as toothpaste, soap, shampoo, and feminine hygiene products.

The Sojourner Truth House pantry is open to Lake County residents with proof of residency. Residents can receive food and personal items once every 30 days. The pantry operates as a drive up or walk-up pantry. Distribution takes place every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and again from 1 p.m.  to 2 p.m.

For more information about 5 Loaves and 2 Fish and how to schedule your drive, please visit sojournertruthhouse.org or contact Sharon Kenning at 219.789.2222.

Wanda Riley started volunteering at Sojourner Truth House’s food pantry in 2016. One day each week, she helps visitors to the pantry who need food, clothing, or personal hygiene products. As a community intake volunteer, she greets all who drive or walk up to the pantry and makes sure that their information is correct.

Over the years, Wanda has helped many people who have touched her heart, like a man who needed food but did not speak English. Through a language translation app on a cell phone, the man was able to explain that he’d recently moved to the Gary area but was homeless and needed assistance. Using the app, Wanda spoke back to him in his own language and provided him with simple, ready-to-go meals with pull-tabs, pastas with lids, and other food that didn’t need to be heated.

“This makes you appreciate what you have at home,” Wanda said, adding that she devotes her time to volunteering at Sojourner Truth House because it gives her joy to help her neighbors.

Pat volunteers for Sojourner Truth House each week with a smile on her face. For over ten years she spends at least once a week helping the food pantry. Outside of volunteering, she is a musician and plays piano for her church. Watch this video to hear some memories she has while volunteering at STH:

The 2023 holiday season at Sojourner Truth House can be described in three words: Cheerful, Inspiring, and Grateful.

In November, on Giving Tuesday, Volunteers came together to Deck the Halls at Sojourner Truth House. Giving Tuesday—always the Tuesday after Thanksgiving—is known worldwide as the day to give back, whether monetarily or with time. Volunteers put up Christmas trees, hung lights, and decorated the day center with Christmas cheer.

Additionally, more than a dozen supporters participated in a 3-for-1 Giving Tuesday match, which quadrupled all donations to STH up to $5,000. The support from generous donors and organizations made Giving Tuesday a great success and helps sustain our mission of serving women and children experiencing homelessness.

In December, the annual Santa Store took place, and clients were able to spend their “Sojourner Bucks” on fun gifts for their family members or needed items for their home. Throughout the year, STH clients earn “Sojourner Bucks” by doing good deeds like participating in classes, being prepared for class, helping their instructors, or when someone notices them doing an act of kindness. More than 80 shoppers participated this Christmas. Check out a video of Dr. Pam Key explaining this event here:

The spirit of giving continued through the end of the month with many donations of food, clothing, hygiene products, toys, and bicycles from our supporters.

It was an inspiring holiday season for all at Sojourner Truth House, and we are so grateful for the support and generosity that make it possible for us to spread cheer to all we serve.

RoShawn is a mother of 2 and lives with her husband in NWI. She has volunteered for the Sojourner Truth House Food Pantry for a few months in 2023 and is their newest cook! Roshawn cooks breakfast for 20 clients and lunch for 30-40 clients four days a week. She prides herself on cooking with love and compassion, keeping in mind the clients she helps serve. Outside of STH, RoShawn owns her own catering company, Goodies by Ro. Learn more on her Facebook page!

Together we are #SojournerStrong

Gregory Traylor is a US Army veteran and volunteer at Sojourner Truth House who knows firsthand what it’s like to live on the edge of losing his home. After an injury left him unable to continue working at his place of employment, Gregory began an extremely difficult search for affordable housing. All he wanted was a stable place to call home. While he searched, he found STH as a place to offer his time and talents.

Gregory helps in the food pantry and wherever else he is needed, four days a week. One day, he asked other volunteers and STH staff if they knew of any apartments that had an opening for him. A PHJC Sister told him about the Linden House, a nearby affordable housing ministry for low-income seniors that is sponsored by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ.

Gregory said, “I went back to my apartment and started packing and I just hit the floor praying. I said, thank you Jesus, it’s about time.”

He now is a resident and a maintenance worker at the Linden House, but still spends as much time as he can volunteering at Sojourner Truth House, offering his time whenever it’s needed.

Airiel Crenshaw, STH Volunteer Coordinator, said about Gregory, “Mr. Traylor has been an extremely reliable volunteer who has shown a dedication to Sojourner! He’s always available to help wherever the greatest need is.”

As a part of its Art Therapy course, Sojourner Truth House worked with its participants to create a new art mural adorning one of its classroom walls.

STH serves women experiencing homelessness and their children through programs to help them obtain housing, such as career services, intensive case management, counseling, art therapy, and more.

The idea for the art mural came from Art Therapist Instructor Chasity Armstrong. Her goal was to create a mural that participants could see themselves in. The inspiration for the design is to look like a clock with participants able to see the progress when they first arrive at STH.

“Art therapy is a way to connect with yourself, your spirit, and the world,” says Director of Client Services, Dr. Pamela Key. “Art shows you to look at the good; we should look at the good in everyone. Everyone has different situations. We hope our clients just become a better version of themselves. We celebrate everything that they accomplish.”

The mural took three months, with Chasity, STH clients, and children working on the mural. “One important part of the mural is that the women have no features,” says Chasity.

“The faces have no features,” says Dr. Key. “This is so our clients can see themselves in it. They’re already there. They’re here.”

Each woman represents different aspects of how a woman goes through the process at STH. A woman is working in the STH garden, which also shows the woman working on her roots. There’s a child with a woman, highlighting women with children are welcome. Another woman is working on the computer, showing the career services programs at STH.

“I saw myself in each woman there,” says a client. “It gives me hope. I learned so much about the power of being a woman by being at Sojourner. They teach that here. This is more than just a job to them; STH is a ministry.”