by Ardeana Hamlin
of The Weekly Staff
When Manna Ministries closed the doors of Ann’s House in September 2013 after a year and half of operation, beds, other furnishings, toys and dishes were left in place.
The beds are still empty and the laundry room is silent. No mothers and children sit around the table sharing a meal, doing homework or playing board games. The sound of laughter and children calling to their mothers has faded away.
“I knew it was the right thing to do,” said Bill Rae, executive director of Manna Ministries, of leaving the four rooms comprising Ann’s House and the furnishings in place. His goal is to reopen Ann’s House in October.
Manna Ministries, housed at its headquarters on Main Street, occupies a building that once was home to Beal College. Many years before that it was the location of Bangor’s town farm and hospital, established in the 1800s to help those who had fallen on hard times. Rae is well aware that when Manna bought the building, a circle was completed — what had been founded originally to assist those in need more than 100 years ago in the 19th century has returned to that same social mission in the 21st century.
Even though funding to continue the support of Ann’s House did not fully materialize, Rae felt certain that a time would come when the transitional housing facility for women and their children would reopen.
“In the year and a half we were open we saw 60 families come through Ann’s House,” Rae said. During that time, under the direction of Sherry Molcan, mothers who stayed at Ann’s House were encouraged and helped to study for GED high school equivalency certificates, or to enroll in classes at the Bangor campus of the University of Maine Augusta. Molcan taught the mothers parenting skills and how to establish study and other routines for themselves and their children. They received help with personal issues and found the support that allowed them eventually to find a job and an apartment so they could be contributing members of the community once again, Rae said.
“Education is the key to open the door to the future,” Rae said, “… to give them the ability to build their own futures, to get off welfare and become self-sufficient.” Residence at Ann’s House helped mothers keep their children out of foster care, he said.
The average age of mothers seeking assistance at Ann’s House was 22 or 23; the average length of stay was one month, he said. Children’s ages ranged from infant to 12 years old. Ann’s House can accommodate four mothers and up to 12 children at any given time. No men are allowed. A security system and 24-hour staffing ensured that Ann’s House residents were safe. Each mother shared a bedroom with her children.
“It wasn’t just abused women,” Rae said, “who came to Ann’s House. Some had lost the place they were renting, some had lost their jobs, some were thrown out of their houses by husbands or boyfriends. Some were living in their cars or compromising their person principles, but they all were caring for their children and wanted to take care of their children.”
In November 2013, Manna opened Home Thrift Shop on Hillside Avenue, off Broadway, in Bangor. Revenue from the shop is earmarked for the support of Ann’s House and will play a key role in the reopening of the facility.
“It costs $60,000 a year to keep Ann’s House open,” Rae said. “Every cent from the thrift shop is for Ann’s House.”
During June, the Home Thrift Shop will offer women’s clothing for $1 per item.
But it will take more than thrift shop revenue to revive Ann’s House. It will take some — or perhaps all — of things on Rae’s wish list for the facility — a grants writer to assist with the task of applying to funding sources, monetary donations from the public, pledges of support from businesses, an organization or organizations willing adopt Ann’s House as its special charity and raise funds for it, patrons to donate goods to the thrift shop and customers to shop there.
“And prayer,” Rae said. “There are still mothers and their children living on the streets.”
For information, email Bill Rae at manna8@juno.com.