The San Benito County nonprofit that has been essential to serving women trying to escape domestic violence celebrated an important milestone Oct. 21. The Emmaus House structure was completed and put into operation 10 years ago and has been serving women in need ever since. Emmaus House is a nonprofit organization providing shelter and assistance to women and children who are victims of domestic violence.
Members of the nonprofit community and the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors’ Bureau helped celebrate by putting its enormous shears to work for a ribbon cutting. Emmaus House already has a proud history of serving 1,420 clients over the past decade; 757 children were also made safe by this home.
Executive Director Patrice Kuerschner thanked the group for its support and pointed out the many volunteers who have helped make the home financially viable.“We never would have been able to do it without the 42,000 hours of volunteer service we’ve had,” she said.
Kuerschner also mentioned that with the uncertainty of the county’s CDBG funding of public services for fiscal year 2017-18, the financial focus is on the upcoming “Best of San Benito County Food and Wine” event on Sunday, Oct. 30, at San Juan Oaks Golf Course, 3825 Union Rd. There will be a six-course food and wine pairing that will show off six of the best chefs in the county.
Some of those volunteers stayed on after the ribbon cutting to tour and catch up with staff at Emmaus House. Joyce and Richard Bernard of Hollister took a room-to-room look at the facilities with Advocate Jo Ann Martinez. Joyce had donated backpacks to Emmaus through the Women’s Club of Hollister and her husband played Santa during Christmas a few years ago for the Hollister Elks Club.
“It is a pleasure to see it grow,” Richard Bernard said after seeing the Emmaus House bedrooms and utility rooms. “It’s been heavily used and so it is beginning to have a little deferred maintenance.” The group discussed upcoming goals for fundraising dollars such as new carpeting, interior painting and replacing some of the four stoves used in the spacious kitchen area. Unlike a typical house, Emmaus handles a lot of people at one time.
In 2016, the Elks were able to update the security cameras throughout the property and in 2017 they hope to replace the aging fire suppression system.
Also on hand for the 10th anniversary celebration was Lucille Hardy, affectionately referred to as the “house mother.” Hardy, a master at handmade blankets, just won “Best of Show” at the San Benito County Fair for an afghan she made in a fair theme.
This year her afghan is called “Kaleidoscope,” capturing the broken pieces in which some Emmaus House residents arrive and how they develop into whole, healthy and unique individuals. In the center is a square with fragments of color and surrounding are square designs. Together, the pattern depicts the journey of strength and growth for these women as they transition out of the home.
Hardy said, “It’s exciting not only for the house but for me. I do a lot of crochet and it is fun to see it make a lot of money. I almost had a heart attack when I saw the numbers after the auction a couple years ago.” That blanket brought in more than $1,400 for Emmaus House. Hardy’s hand crocheted piece will top off the auction at the Best of San Benito event, which starts at 3 p.m. on Oct. 30.
For more information call the Emmaus House Office at (831) 630 5899. Tickets are available at Four Corners Real Estate and Postal Graphics in Hollister.