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Arvada Students Join In Effort To Save Home For Unwed Moms

Written by Rick Sallinger
ARVADA, Colo. (CBS4) - An Arvada home for unwed mothers is in danger of closing after 30 years in existence.

Shannon's Hope is a refuge for women who are either pregnant or recently had children.

Financial problems are the reason the shelter may close.

"We will have to find new places for the women or they will have to go back to where they were before," said Alex Kraft, a program director for Shannon's Hope.

One of those women said her name is Tosha. She did not want to provide her last name. The threat of the shelter closing disturbs her.

"I would probably be on the streets involved with social services," she said. "It's frightening to think of not having Shannon's Hope."

Tosha says she was an alcohol abuser who got pregnant and moved into Shannon's Hope from another program "to be a good mom and provider for my daughter."

"This is the only home my daughter has ever known," she said.

She credits the program for helping turn her life around.

"They've helped me become a better person and remind me that my daughter comes first."

Tosha has been attending school while living at the shelter. She describes Shannon's Hope as a place "to help those of us who wasted quite a bit of our years."

The shelter was started by Leslie Pottebaum 30 years ago in Denver in memory of a child who had died. Then such homes were barely in existence.

"Most of the time when a single woman had a child it would be given up for adoption," Kraft explained. Since then Shannon's Hope has served 2,000 women.

One-third of the women are victims of domestic violence, one third are substance abusers, and the other third are homeless. Shannon's Hope is privately funded through donations. It's a Christian home with courses such as parenting, bible study and nutrition.

Kraft says its bank is threatening foreclosure. "It definately worries us, we need a home for the girls."

To raise money a pair of teenage girls have held a garage sale and are hosting a "baby shower" for the residents of Shannon's Hope this weekend.

Samantha Roberts, 16, and Katie Kerstiens, 14, are students at Ralston Valley High School. They started what is called "The Messy Rooms Foundation." It's purpose is to help those who don't have a home.

"I think how people like Katie and I have to be told to clean up our rooms, but there are people all over the world who don't have anything more than a plastic bag or a few personal belongings to create a messy room," said Samantha.

She is asking people to bring cribs, clothing, strollers and other items for the women of the shelter.

The "baby shower" is taking place Saturday, Sept. 17 at The Depot at Five Parks, 13810 W. 85th Drive Arvada. It will be from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

RELATED LINKS: messyrooms.webs.com | shannonshope.org

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