A Love Letter to Morinville**
** and Sturgeon County and St Albert and the surrounding area!
Our Dearest Morinville,
Our hearts overflow with gratitude as we pen these words to you, our beloved town, after 15 years of unwavering support and love. Our community support has truly been the cornerstone of our journey and a beacon of hope and healing for survivors of domestic violence.
In the days, weeks, months, and years following the loss of Jessica, your kindness and support has meant more than you can ever know. Your generosity knows no bounds, and we are forever indebted to you for your continuous support in making our vision a reality. Because of you, we opened Jessie’s House, which is one of the only privately funded domestic violence shelters in Canada. Jessie’s House is truly a home where survivors can feel safe as they flee abuse.
To our dear volunteers, your passion reflects the heart and soul of our community. Your tireless efforts cooking for our families, gardening, helping us move furniture, sharing your other many talents, and helping to make our events so successful have brought warmth and joy to the work that we do.
To our sponsors and donors, your support means that we are here to pick up the phone when someone calls our crisis line. You have helped us continue to grow, opening our second location at Eileen’s Place and adding a playground for the children who stay with us. Your generosity means that our families leave Jessie’s House with a hamper of necessities to start their new life free of abuse.
To our supporters in Sturgeon County, St Albert, Edmonton, and all around, really… we couldn’t do it without you, either! We are so grateful that you have helped us put down roots and continue to grow to serve anyone who needs our help, regardless of where they come from.
To our community partners, we simply could not do it without you. Our local schools are the backbone of this community, and their collaboration means that we are able to share our message of creating a future free of domestic violence. You have shared our challenges and celebrations as we launched the award-winning Inspire Program, and you continue to help us reach the youth who will help us build a better tomorrow.
Morinville*, you are a shining example of compassion and unity, a safe haven where families in need can find solace and strength. We see this in partnerships like ours with the Morinville Public Library, who provide programming to our families. This connection proves that there are safe, warm people in our community, and our families feel this connection when they graduate out of Jessie’s House to living independently.
Is it any wonder that so many of our clients want to stay in the community after they stay at Jessie’s House? This community, a sanctuary for those fleeing domestic violence, stands as a testament to your unwavering commitment to create a better tomorrow. In your embrace, our families have found not just shelter, but a beautiful place to call home as they rebuild their lives free from fear and abuse.
With love and admiration overflowing, we thank you Morinville*, for being the heart of our community, a place where love truly conquers all.
Forever yours,
Your friends at the Jessica Martel Memorial Foundation.
