At Sojourner Truth House (STH), moving out of a shelter is just the beginning. Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) operates on a simple but powerful idea: being stably housed gives people the foundation they need to confront and solve the deeper issues that led them into homelessness. With case managers providing guidance, workshops, and resources, clients can recover from trauma, rebuild their lives, and thrive in their communities.
STH su...
Workers from NIPSCO volunteered at Sojourner Truth House (STH) on Thursday, February 20th, as part of Black Labor Week 2025. This annual observance celebrates the contributions of Black labor unions while promoting community engagement and service. The initiative is led by Ephrin “E.J.” Jenkins, Founder and Executive Director of Black Labor Week Project Inc., who continues to champion a movement that highlights the impact of Black labor union...
NIPSCO, a leading energy provider serving northern Indiana, has generously awarded $12,000 to Sojourner Truth House (STH) as part of its “Hope for the Holidays” program. This significant contribution will support STH’s Santa Store, a vital initiative helping 250 women and families who are currently experiencing homelessness as well as those who have successfully transitioned to stable housing during the holiday season.
The Santa Store empo...
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 25th annual Walk for STH in June of this year with a ...
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 co...
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 addressi...
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 Engl...
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 che...
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...
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 fo...
As the final days of summer approach, the Sojourner Truth House garden received its last day of cleaning up before fall arrives. The garden has several vegetables, including squash, tomatoes, cucumber, and zucchini.
On Saturday, September 16, a group of Millhouse Engineering & Construction Inc. volunteers offered their time and talents to harvest vegetables and clean the areas. This is their second time this year volunteering at STH, and ...
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 ...
Joseph S. Pete, Times of Northwest Indiana
Macy’s will open its latest Region location in Highland Saturday.
The New York City-based retailer, one of the largest and longest-running department store chains, will open a new smaller format store in the Highland Grove Shopping Center.
The store will take over the former Marshalls space in the outdoor shopping mall at Indianapolis Boulevard and Main Street on the far south end of Highlan...
August 11, 2023 | By Marlene A. Zloza, Northwest Indiana Catholic
Shoes come in all colors, sizes and styles, and chances are you have at least one perfectly good pair in your closet that you never wear, which makes them a perfect fit for Sojourner Truth House.
The women’s resource center is in the midst of a Shoe Drive that is accepting donations of all kinds of new and gently used shoes – men’s, women’s and children’s – through Aug. 3...
Grace Opinker | The Times of Northwest Indiana
Last November, a young man wearing a sweatshirt and sandals walked up to the clothing bins outside the Sojourner Truth House in Gary.
The man grabbed a coat that came halfway up his arms. Although he was very grateful to have the ill-fitting coat, volunteer Dennis Kenning knew they could find him something better in the pile of donated winter jackets.
Dennis and his wife, Sharon Kenning,...
With feelings of relief and excitement, families look forward to and prepare for another school year.
On Monday, July 31st, Sojourner Truth House hosted a Back to School event for STH clients and their children. This event consisted of grilled hotdogs, snow cones, popcorn, candy, and a special appearance from Cute as a Cupcake from Merrillville, Indiana. While the treats were delicious, families also received practical help.
Dr. Jod...
The “Motivated to Move Forward” retreat welcomed STH clients at MoonTree Studios, a ministry of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, in Donaldson, IN. The retreat encouraged self-acceptance, awareness and created avenues toward spiritual renewal.
Attendees were guided through exercises to focus on their surroundings and create their journey. Many used the campus in Donaldson to collect objects from nature that best represented things that ...
Gary, IN (December 30, 2021) Today, Matt Schuffert, President of Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, visited the Sojourner Truth House in Gary to present Angela Curtis, Executive Director of the Sojourner Truth House with a check for $25,000 to fund programs that help homeless and at-risk women and their children in Gary, Hammond, Hobart, Lake Station, Whiting and other parts of Northwest Indiana.
According to Schuffert, “Hard Rock Casi...
September 1, 2021
“I am for keeping the thing going while things are stirring. Because if we wait till it is still, it will take a great while to get it going again.” – Sojourner Truth
Things were certainly stirring at Sojourner Truth House, as a new era of leadership began July 1st with a familiar face. The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ chose Angela Curtis to succeed Sister Peg Spindler, CSA, and to “keep things going” as the day cent...
