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Bethesda Spruce
Birthplace of
Bethesda Project
Bethesda Spruce was the first
residence established by Bethesda Project twenty five years ago. At that
time women with a history of homelessness and suffering with mental illness were
housed in an apartment above The Ugly Pub on 13th
St. The Body of Christ Prayer Group under the direction of Father Domenic Rossi
from Daylesford Abbey responded to the request of Sr. Mary Klock, RSM who needed
the lease for this apartment picked up for the remainder of the year and who
also needed volunteers to oversee the women during the day to assure that they
were compliant with their medica-tions and attended their various appointments.
Thus, Bethesda Project was born!
That was in
1979. Within one year the home at 1110 Spruce became available and with
many hurdles and obstacles it was purchased for those living over The Ugly Pub
and any woman with a history of homelessness who suffered with mental illness
and who desired to live independently with supportive services. Many
volunteers helped to bring the dream of Bethesda Project to a reality.
1110 was renovated to accommodate as many women as possible and so the
volunteers with hammer and nails, brush and paint helped to create individual
bedrooms for sixteen women.
We
salute all those who over the years
–all volunteers, staff and residents who make Bethesda Spruce what it is today.
Today we have
a full house with sixteen women living independently in a safe, secure home with
support from day and night staff. All of our women completed programs over
the years offered through mental health agencies. They remain connected to
their doctors and caseworkers and willingly attend their appointments.
Spruce can be
their home indefinitely as it is not considered transitional housing. Most of
our women enjoy longevity at Spruce with one of our women living here 18 years.
Several of our women volunteer outside the house and provide a pleasant voice on
the other end of the phone for North Broad, the main office, St. John Rectory as
well as office skills for Hall Mercer. Being a pen-pal to the incarcerated is
also done by two of our women. At times the sick in hospitals or nursing
homes are visited by our women.
All sixteen of
our women help to steward their home by taking complete care of their individual
bedrooms and rotating chores for the general areas of the house. They
assist staff by keeping after the garden and front area of the house to maintain
a clean and pleasant area for themselves as well as for guests. Some chores are
rotated monthly and others on a nightly basis.
Volunteers
continue to grace our threshold and the lives of our women. The volunteers
come to visit, cook, go shopping, plan outings, picnics, cultural events at the
Kimmel Center, Museum of Art, Longwood Gardens, bring special dinners and
treats, play bingo, do arts and crafts, etc. Our women look upon our
volunteers as extension of family and look forward to the lively interchange
that happens around the kitchen table. We would especially like to thank
MaryClaire and Paul O’Dea who visit weekly for a TH morning coffee klatch from
October through May; Susie Farrell who visits each Monday and prepares a
delectable afternoon treat; Ann Leavitt, Kay Shields and Madeline Christianson
who bring common meal with extra treats every other Wednesday; Elizabeth vondem
Hagen and Kathi Bender who bring common meal the other Wednesday’s of the month;
the Kacala Family who join us for Thanksgiving dinner and bring the turkeys and
fixings; Kevin Jackson and Judy McClellan who often come and barbecue for
special spring and summer holidays. Octoberfest and Christmas. Many children and
students of all ages share in Bethesda’s mission and ministry. Waldron
Mercy Academy, our Christmas Angel, and St. Norbert parishioners and Women’s
Club delight in making our Christmas bright by gifting us in special ways so
that it feels like Christmas many times over throughout the year. Temple
Nursing and Social Work students provide yet another avenue of presence and
expertise available for our women. Countless other high school, college and
alumni groups assist us throughout the year by doing special projects around the
house that need attention—painting, cleaning, gardening, etc. And lest I
forget—our very own Tony Medwid and Sister Kathleen who come every other Tuesday
afternoon to share prayer with our women. Our women’s bodies, minds and
spirits are being nourished in a myriad of ways and we are grateful.
Our prayer is
that we hope each of you (residents, guests, volunteers) can experience some of
the sunshine you so willingly share with us. Our hearts delight in your presence
with us today. May your hearts and spirits continue to be touched and
transformed through your ministry of loving and caring for each other. In
your own lives may you know the hundredfold that you so generously bestow upon
all at Bethesda Spruce and throughout all of Bethesda Project.
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