A recent $25,000 matching grant from the Auen Foundation made the purchase of a 15-passenger van for Mama’s House possible. The van transports the 10 resident moms and their babies to appointments, school, and other outings.
“We were unable to carry all the moms and babies together in our small six-passenger van, relying on our volunteers to help out with their own cars or vans,” said Jan Lupia, Mama’s House founder and CEO.
During a recent site visit by Sherrie Auen and Catharine Reed, Auen mentioned, “If you can find $25,000, we’ll offer a matching grant to purchase a van.”
Lupia sent out an email request to her volunteers and board, and within an hour she said major donor Anne Thompson-Silverstein responded with the matching funds.
With the help of Paul Thiel, Max Tallon and Tyler Vandora of Palm Springs Motors, Mama’s House found a “very good price” on a nearly-new, low-mileage Ford XLT 15 passenger van.
“With this big van we do not need to have as many on-call volunteer drivers,” said Lupia. “There is now enough room for all our residents, their babies in car seats, plus strollers and diaper bags. Many times moms are going to the same place at the same time, so being able to transport everyone at once saves gas, and our precious volunteers’ time for other needs.”
About Mama’s House/The Hope Center
Mama’s House offers a safe, supportive, loving residential environment for women who are facing an unplanned pregnancy, vulnerable with no place to live or means of support.
Mama’s House expanded educational and counseling services with the opening of the Hope Center in June, 2017 at 44875 Deep Canyon, Suite 2. Hope Center is a suite of offices, meeting and classroom space where a full spectrum of education and counseling programs are now available to resident moms.
Hope Center is also a place for the community to connect and benefit by providing adult education as a Coachella Valley Adult School site for GED and diplomas; Courage to Heal counseling; Earn & Learn, a 100-hour parenting curriculum; support and leadership groups; adult and infant CPR, and much more.
Mama’s House and The Hope Center are operated by Heartbeat at 22, a 501 (C) (3) nonprofit faith-based organization founded by Jan Lupia, executive director.
For more information, call (844) 232-8622 or visit www.themamashouse.org.