Blog Posts - Haddie's for Girls in Crisis

Graduation 2019

5/28/2019

What a wonderful way to end May...graduation! Three of Haddie's previous girls graduated as part of the Class of 2019, and we are so proud of their accomplishments. These young ladies have spent hours completing course work while working jobs, participating in extracurriculars, and being involved in other community organizations. For future plans, each have their own programs of study that they will embark on including nursing, dental hygientist, and Certified Nursing Assistant. They definitely left a stamp on our hearts at Haddie's and pray the Lord will bless them in all that they do. Haddie's is changing lives and restoring families.

First Annual Opelika Giving Day

5/16/2019

The Community Foundation of East Alabama partnered with ten local non-profits to host the first annual Opelika Giving Day. During this time, the citizens of Opelika were encouraged to support their favorite non-profit. With your support, Haddie's raised over $1600! We are so thankful for each of you that gave and for the Community Foundation of East Alabama for their generosity in hosting the event. If you did not have a chance to give, it is not too late - you can still give online! Because of you, we are able to continue changing lives, restoring families.

Leadership Training

5/16/2019

This year our Executive Director, Gina, was selected to participate in two very important programs in our area - Leadership Lee County and Opelika's Top 20 Under 40. Each of these provided Gina with meetings to find out the ins and outs of our county and city. She was able to meet with government officials, city workers, and individuals who work behind the scenes to make our city run. Both of these also allowed for Gina to give back by volunteering at the Lee County Humane Society and Lee County Youth Development Center. It has been an exciting year and Gina is so thankful for the opportunity to expand her knowledge.

Giving Back

5/13/2019

Haddie's was recently chosen by BB&T Bank as their Lighthouse Project. The BB&T team spruced up Haddie's lawn, planted beautiful flowers, provided us with lawn equipment, and also gave us a new sitting area. We are so thankful for partnerships such as this. If you would like to know more about how your team or group can partner with us, contact us at haddieshome@gmail.com

Back and Better Than Ever

3/6/2019

Over the past few months, Haddie's has been undergoing construction to be able to serve a wider population of girls. Our home is now ADA approved and up to code. Haddie's was partially open starting mid-January with construction continuing. Haddie's Home fully opened in the middle of February. We are now able to accommodate up to eight girls and continue with our mission to help bring girls closer to Christ and be an aid to families in crisis. We are excited about the new opportunities we have to reach more families in our community.

Being a Good Neighbor

2/21/2019

As construction drew to completion, generous men and women from National Village's Neighbor to Neighbor group fled to Haddie's for a day of clean up. With tools in hand and smiles on their faces, over ten of our fellow neighbors helped to clean up and perform home matienance. Our home looks beautiful and these thoughtful individuals helped us be able to officially reopen! Be on the lookout for more information about our renovations. Want to know how your group can help? Find out here https://www.haddieshome.com/how-you-can-help.html

Major Gift Initiative "Changing Lives, Restoring Families" Launched

2/4/2019

Haddie's has launched a major gift initiative "Changing Lives, Restoring Families" with a three year goal of $600,000. To date, Haddie's has raised $361,000. We are so thankful for our donors who are invested in Haddie's mission to end the generational cycle of abuse and neglect. We ask that you would prayerfully consider joining us in our endeavor and changing the lives of girls and their families.

Celebrating donors at our donor event, November 2018.

April News and Updates from Haddie's

4/12/2018

Watch Our Video

April is Child Abuse Prevention Awareness month. The United States has one of the worst records regarding child abuse and neglect compared to other industrialized nations. Every year more than 3.6 million referrals are made to child protection agencies. These referrals involve more than 6.6 million children. Of these 6.6 million children, an estimated 3.2 million of those children are subjected to an investigated report.

In Alabama, there were a total of 22,067 referrals for child abuse and neglect in 2015 (the most recent year statistics are available). Also in 2015, the Annie E. Casey Foundation reported that there were 234 children indicated of abuse and neglect in Lee County. That is up from 172 in the prior year. Child abuse does not discriminate against socioeconomic status, race, religion, ethnic and cultural groups. The consequences of child abuse and neglect, however, are substantial and often generational in nature.

Part of the mission and ministry of Haddie's is providing a safe and secure place for girls in crisis to help end the generational cycle of abuse and neglect in our community. Can we count on your help? Click here to find out ways you can help.

Haddie's Welcomes New Board Members

In January, Haddie’s welcomed ten new members to our hard-working Board of Directors. We would like to extend a warm welcome to Melanie Cadenhead, Lyra Howalt, Denson Lipscomb, Dr. Cathy Long, Tricia Peterson, Ali Rauch, Todd Rauch, Jason Rhodes, Julie Rhodes, and Jenny Timm. We are so thrilled for the group to join our current Board of Directors. Each of these individuals bring unique gifts and talents to our board, and we look forward to their service to Haddie’s, our girls and our life-changing mission. Be on the lookout for our Board Member Spotlight to learn more about our new members. Click here to see the complete list of our Board of Directors.

Making an Impact

Thomas Harp of Boy Scout Pack XXX recently completed his Eagle Scout service project at Haddie’s. Thomas stated that he chose Haddie's because he had served here during Auburn United Methodist Church's Sweat Week a few years ago and the impact on girls' lives was very touching to him. Thomas built benches and side tables for our fire pit area and installed solar lights around another seating area. This spot will be a perfect getaway and summer hang out spot for the girls.

Interested in a service project for your club, church group, fraternity, sorority or other organization? Contact Executive Director, Gina Allen, at (334) 744-9680.

Having a Servant's Heart

The Opelika National Village Ladies’ Club is a faithful supporter of Haddie's through finances, service and friendships. They showered us with gifts for Christmas and supported us financially throughout 2017. Each month the group supports our ministry by providing our girls with home cooked meals. Several of the ladies also serve as mentors to our residents. We are thankful for their support of our ministry and for having a servant's heart.

Local Teen Makes Heartfelt Donation

Skylah Harris hosted a Christmas party for her friends and asked everyone to bring a gift for Haddie's. Skylah and her friends collected household supplies, toiletries, and gift cards for the girl's of Haddie's. We are so thankful for Skylah's desire to give back. She is a testament that you are never too young to have a philanthropic mindset. Would you like to know how you can give back, just as Skylah did? Visit Haddies.org and get in touch with us!

Executive Director's Update

Gina Allen, LMSW

2017 at Haddie’s ended with a fun-filled Christmas. We were so blessed by many wonderful sponsors who gave for our girls, including Church of the Highlands, East Alabama Medical Center, The Opelika National Village Ladies’ Club, and several individual donors. We can never thank you enough for giving to our ministry. The joy that you brought for each of our girls is indescribable.

We have had several groups partner with us this quarter to bring supplies or volunteer around the home. Thank you to each of you: WMU of First Baptist Lafayette, National Village Ladies Group, Lakeview Baptist Church College Ministry, Queen Esther Group, Women of Empowerment, Auburn University Social Work Club, Church of the Highlands, Campus Kitchens at Auburn University, and Hilton Garden Inn – Auburn.

Since Spring is fully upon us, we begin to think about the planting and growing that this season brings. In order for us to gain any fruits or beautiful flowers, we must first plant the seeds, continue to water and nurture them, and then wait for the increase to come. This is exactly what we strive to do with each of our girls at Haddie’s. We plant seeds, water what we have planted, nurture them, and wait for God to bring forth the fruit of our sowing. Nothing that we do would be possible without the grace and love of Christ and our generous supporters. You have a part of every success that comes from Haddie’s. We thank you and pray the Lord would bless all that you put your hands to.

Haddie's In the News!

1/12/2018

We were excited to open our newspaper this morning and find Haddie's on the front page! Thank you to Keith Huffman from the Opelika-Auburn News and a hat tip to our Executive Director, Gina Allen, and our Board President, Vertrina Grubbs, for their excellent insight and comments for the story!

Click here to read the entire article online.

To find out how you can support Haddie's mission of changing lives and families in crisis, visit this page.

Giving Graciously This Christmas

12/5/2017

The Christmas season is a time to celebrate God and to give generously as our Heavenly Father gave to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, for the remission of our sins. It is a time to rejoice in our blessings, and to reflect on how we as God's children, can spread joy and kindness to our neighbor.

At Haddie's we are always looking for partners to help with maintaining our home so that it is a pleasant, inviting and nurturing place for the girls to live. On average our organization spends $40 a day to provide three healthy meals, $30 a day on utilities (i.e. gas, cable, and internet), $50 a month on school supplies and extracurriculars, $130 a month on medication, therapy and doctor and dentist visits, and $200 a month on resident activities and exercise. In sum, it costs Haddie's $30,000 to support each child per year. Therefore, the need for your graciousness and generosity is significant.

If you would like to give to Haddie's this Christmas by partnering with us or by making a monetary donation, please use the "Donate Now" button below or contact our office by phone at (334) 744-9680 or by email at haddieshome@gmail.com.