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Washington Evening Journal
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Washington, IA 52353
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Mothers Home opens in Mt. Pleasant
Cradle of Hope’s Mothers Home is not another shelter, it is a home to equip displaced mothers
MT. PLEASANT — Around this time last year, Cradle of Hope Director Peggy Knudsen told a packed room at their annual banquet that they were still looking for a mother’s home location, but they were hopeful and trusting all things would come in God’s time. Little did she know only five months later, they would close on a location.
For the last 16 years Cradle of Hope has a pregnancy resource center that focuses on “encouraging girls, women, men and families with pregnancy or pregnancy loss by providing personal and practical help for their physical, emotional and spiritual needs,” in the southeast Iowa area.
The values of Cradle of Hope will continue through this new Mothers home, which they explicitly explain is not a shelter, but a home that will expand their program by offering a safe and stable place for pregnant women and mothers of newborns.
The extension of the program at the Mothers Home is designed to fulfill a vision of providing housing, help and hope through advocacy, growth plans, and classes. These supports will help equip mothers with life skills while they live in the home so when they leave, they will be able to do so with a fresh start.
While Knudsen originally cast the vision to open a home for disconnected young mothers in Henry County during Cradle of Hope’s 2022 annual banquet, it has been a lifelong dream of hers to care for mothers in this way. Nearly a year and a half after putting voice to this dream, Cradle of Hope finally found a home that fit the bill in September 2023.
This find came after many months of looking dozens of houses throughout all of Henry County. Knudsen was set on finding the right home that would provide a space for multiple mother-baby pairs to live under one roof as they received needed support.
Despite the winding road, before the end of that September, volunteers assembled and made for a successful move in day. Volunteers moved large furniture and other donations from four different locations as others cleaned, put things away, and provided food for the manual laborers.
As things began to come together and Knudsen’s vision came to life, the home opened and began to accept applications October 2023. Women in need responded.
One bedroom in the Mothers Home offers a crib. (Photo Submitted)
Another bedroom holds a bassinet and rocking chair. (Photo Submitted)
The dining room offers a space for mothers to bond. (Photo Submitted)
Donations from various churches and groups fill the pantry. (Photo Submitted)
By the home’s first Christmas this past December, the home was already filled with a family-like holiday spirit as the first mothers and babies moved in alongside the Mothers Home Supervisor and Registered Nurse Melisa McConnell.
As part of the Mothers Home program, McConnell provides what Knudsen would call “an arm of support” to the mothers and young children living there. If they don’t have family, McConnell and the Cradle of Hope staff and volunteers step in. Where there is need, the community provides, and the first mothers are already well on their way to learning how to start fresh with a full system of support.
“It used to be, back in the day, where you had your mom and dad and aunt and uncle, and grandmas to surround you and help you,” she said. “It used to be families that would surround a young single mom that was pregnant and didn’t know what to do, even a young married mom. So, we thought, now is the time to provide a place that’s not just a roof over their head, but a home environment. We want to give them a culture of not just life but abundant life.”
As Cradle of Hope continues to fulfill its mission of creating a home with abundant life for displaced mothers, it welcomes volunteers to get involved by calling them at 319- 986-5336. Mothers looking to apply to live in the home may do so by contacting the same number.
Those wishing to make donations to Cradle of Hope or the Mothers Home can do so by clicking the donate tab on their website www.cardleofhopeiowa.com, drop off donations at Cradle of Hope during business hours, or mail them to P.O. Box 268, Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641
Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com
