Women’s shelter buys additional home

Hearth Homes has been providing safe housing and spiritual guidance to women and children since 2003.

Located in Spokane Valley, the organization was founded by Karen Fournier, a woman who was homeless and using drugs until she was 29. She cleaned herself up, bought her own house and started her own family.

She started Hearth Homes to serve women who needed a helping hand to turn their lives around.

Hearth Homes now has its offices in Spokane Valley Partners, 10814 E. Broadway Ave. A recent anonymous donation of $125,000 has enabled the organization to purchase a second home, next to the current one in Spokane Valley.

“He wants to remain anonymous,” said Jenny Trussell, office manager of Hearth Homes. “He’s a very loyal donor.”

Trussell said she hopes to close on the home by the end of the month and hopes to open the new home within two or three months. When that happens, they will have room for 11 families and a one-acre lot, which Trussell said will be used to start a garden.

But Hearth Homes will need more funds to get the house ready for its new families. The home needs some remodeling and some landscaping work.

The organization will present its second annual “Celebration of Mothers” dinner and auction May 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Center Pointe, 1408 N. Washington St.

The fundraiser will include both silent and live auction items such as four Southwest Airline tickets, a Seattle package with Mariner tickets, Silverwood tickets, a flat-screen television, hotel stays, restaurant gift certificates, gift baskets and more.

The event is free. To reserve a seat, call Hearth Homes (509) 926-6492 or email hearth.homes@comcast.net.