Angels among us: Angel House adds house mother and The Halo

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WILMINGTON — A newly painted halo and a house mother are among the newest additions to the Angel House on Xenia Avenue.

Angel House, which started last year, houses single, pregnant, homeless women, who stay at the house until the baby is born or until it’s three months old. While there they learn about how to parent, or how to make an adoption plan, and much more.

One thing they’ve been missing is a house mother who “runs the house” according to Angel House President Joann Leach.

“They see that they get good meals, and do their work,” Leach said of a house mother’s duties. “She’s going to help them do all the cooking, cleaning, and everyday things.”

Eventually, they got one in the form of Jennifer Ward. It took a while, but Leach believes that it was the right time.

“I’m a woman of faith. I believe that God sends people when he’s ready and he was just now ready for us to have a house mother,” said Leach.

With their house mother and the other women as “sisters”, they’ll learn how to function as a family.

The other new addition is the newly painted Halo sign on the former Gibson’s Goodies ice cream parlor, now named The Halo.

Angel House Vice President Cindy Martin hopes that the separate building will serve as a learning center for the residents.

For the newly painted sign, the Angel House reached out to local artist Mary Beth Thorngren, whom they met during a women’s invitational art show last May. The proceeds collected went to the Angel House.

“I never painted a building before; it was a challenge,” said Thorngren.

“It’s gorgeous. We love it,” Leach added.

They hope to have a kitchen area for cooking classes and to give seminars on topics like how to form a budget or grocery shop on a budget, or general parenting classes.

“We also hope to open it to the anyone in the community, and integrating father classes,” said Martin.

The building currently is serving as a storage center for donations they receive. They also sell items to people who ever need items.

They now open it up twice a month, on the first and third Saturday, for rummage sales. Items they have an overabundance of they’ll donate to the homeless shelter

Several bake sales are coming up. Aug. 5 is an Angel Fun Day, a fundraiser event where people can come and see the building, see and shop at The Halo, and there will be games for the kids.

“It’s going to be a fundraiser as well as a community thank you,” said Martin. “They can come and take a tour, see what’s going on and where we’re at.”

They also have an online auction planned for August. They’re working with Channel 3 out of Washington Court House and with WALH in Wilmington. The official date has yet to be set and information to participate will be available shortly.

If anyone wishes to make a donation to Angels Awaiting, call 937-283-7976 or email [email protected].

From left are Angel House VP Cindy Martin, artist Mary Beth Thorngren, house mother Jennifer Ward, President Joann Leach, Board Member Steve Leach, and Treasurer Sandy McKinney.
http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2017/07/web1_halo-1.jpgFrom left are Angel House VP Cindy Martin, artist Mary Beth Thorngren, house mother Jennifer Ward, President Joann Leach, Board Member Steve Leach, and Treasurer Sandy McKinney. John Hamilton | News Journal
Angel House adds house mother and The Halo

By John Hamilton

[email protected]

Reach John Hamilton at 937-382-2574

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