A House Parent Suite That Feels Like Home

Help Us Create A House Parent Suite That Feels Like Home

Dear faithful friends,

We are working on a new project at Monarch’s Way and we could really use your help to bring it all together.

If you’ve been on the Monarch’s Way campus for a tour, you may recall seeing the large unfinished attic space. We may have even asked you to envision how the space could be used. We have 7 large bedrooms, a game room, library, fitness center, a relief staff bedroom, a great living room, and a beautiful chapel. We have ample living space for our Monarch’s Way girls. What we don’t have is adequate living space that would attract a dedicated husband and wife couple to live on campus and be committed to the Monarch’s Way girls and the property.

When we were in the beginning stages of preparing the property to be a school and home for the girls, I invited a sweet couple from Milton Hershey School to tour the property and give insight from their educated and experienced perspective. At that time, I really hadn’t put much thought into the needs of the house parents who would be required to live on campus. While this couple was impressed with our program, they were very distracted by the house parents’ accommodations. They assured me what we had to offer (a bedroom and bathroom) would never work. I was not persuaded and just kept moving forward to get Monarch’s Way open so we could begin impacting lives. I could not see it then, but as you may know, Loren and I have been house parents at Monarchs Way for almost 2 years. Being the House Parents was not something I saw in the Lord’s plan.

We stepped in out of necessity for what I saw as a short season. I actually told Loren that I thought it would just be for about three months until God brought the right people. God had already divinely aligned all of our other staff. I had faith that He didn’t forget about this integral part of our program. Do you ever think God has a sense of humor? Looking back at how this played out, how he prepared our hearts to “fill in”, I certainly believe He does. I now have no doubt it was in the Fathers heart, all along, that Loren and I would help to put all that He had grown and developed in us into the foundation of what it means to be house parents to these precious girls before he brings the right, long term couple to carry the torch.

What we realized while being house parents is that it’s almost impossible to be truly dedicated to this property, the home and most importantly, the girls while having a home and property of your own to care for. We also realized that most house parents have a two bedroom apartment style living space that provides a place to retreat to so that they can refresh, reflect and relax. And, most of all, still be able to spend quality time together on their off hours. This couple’s thriving marriage will be a beautiful example to the girls of Monarch’s Way.

We hope that you will consider helping us reimagine this beautiful attic space into a suite our house parents can call home as they dedicate their lives to helping the girls here at Monarch’s Way.

For Her Future,
Carissa Martin
Founder