Working for a charitable company brought Carol to the Bethany House board. Her long-time employer, Toledo Edison, made Mother’s Day baskets for the moms in our program, and she participated in the service project.

Carol, who has long been involved in other service clubs and organizations, learned about the services Bethany House provides and felt a calling to support this important work. Thoughtfully selecting the items for each basket, Carol reflected on the circumstances survivors face when trying to break free from a life of violence.

“No one thinks that they might one day leave behind their most basic possessions and flee in the middle of the night,” she said. “And then, suddenly, they’re alone in the world, wondering how the kids are going to brush their teeth or where they’re going to sleep safely.”

When a board position opened up in late 2023, she seized the opportunity to get involved in a meaningful way.

What excites you about the mission?

Home is a place where we should all feel safe and loved. It is so important to help those who experience domestic violence. By giving them a hand, a safe place where they can begin to heal, and a vision of what their future can be, we lift them up. Every time we lift someone up, it makes us all better and stronger.