about Us
VISION
To empower families to live in dignity and healthy independence.
MISSION
To provide housing and supportive services to foster the independence of homeless and at-risk families.
HISTORY
MERCY Communities is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization dedicated to addressing the crisis of family homelessness. We help homeless and at-risk women with children find the resources they need to provide a safe place for themselves and their families.
Since 1999 we have served roughly 1400 individuals (moms and their children). MERCY Communities has grown from providing 10 units of housing in 1999 to 30 units in 2022. In fiscal year 2022, MERCY Communities housed and supported 55 mothers with 101 children.
Why a starfish?
A young man walked down a deserted beach just before dawn. In the distance he saw a woman picking up stranded starfish and throwing them back into the sea. He gazed in wonder as she stooped again to throw the small starfish from the sand into the water.
“Woman, why do you spend so much energy doing what seems to be a waste of time?” The woman explained that the starfish would die if left in the sand in the morning sun. “But there must be thousands of beaches and millions of starfish on each of them,” exclaimed the young man. “How can you hope to make any difference?”
The woman looked down at the small starfish in her hand. As she gently tossed it into the safety of the sea she said quietly, “I made a difference to this one.”
Board of Directors
BOARD OF DIRECTORS FY 2024
President: Blake Pryor
Vice Presidents: Bob Hall, Manjula Mehta
Treasurer: Danielle Hunt
Secretary: Sr. Marilyn Jean Runkel, OP
Past President: Michael Kos
Members
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Sarah Adcock
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Vickie Evans
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Bethany Hunter
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Ryan Levi
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Nancy Eckert Martin
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Manjula Mehta
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Jennifer Grady-Paswater
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Tracey Smith, DNP
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Jamie Stone
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Kendyl Wear
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Dennis Wilkinson
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Pat McGuigan Hubbell (Honorary Board Member)
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Joan Queen (Honorary Board Member)
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Joelle Knoles (Honorary Board Member)