Natalie Watson Named New Director

We are excited to share that Natalie Watson has been appointed the Program Director for Becky's Place. She has served Becky's Place since 2012 and is excited to take on this new role. Natalie will work closely with all aspects of agency operation, including financial and communications oversight, while leading the dedicated Becky's Place staff. We look forward to this new chapter for Becky's Place while remaining dedicated to our mission of providing help and hope for homeless women and children.

Mother and Daughter Work

Together to Create a New Life

Julie* had found herself in some legal trouble and was placed at Becky’s Place to complete 40 hours of community service. During her time completing community service, Julie confided in staff that she really needed a place like Becky’s Place to stay. She and her teenage daughter were living in a home with drugs and abuse and had been kicked out previously. Julie shared that she had been in recovery for a few months, and this was quite a challenging situation for her.

Julie and her daughter, Christina*, were accepted into Becky’s Place with open arms. Julie was working as a waitress at a local restaurant but found it hard to move to a more rewarding position due to her past. She eventually saved enough money to purchase a car, and this broadened her options for employment. She was hired as a Behavioral Health Technician which doubled her pay and allowed her to start saving for housing. She felt confident that she could provide safe and stable housing for her and her daughter.

Julie’s past again provided some barriers to work through. Julie applied for housing assistance and for several rentals through private property owners but was always denied. She started to feel hopeless. She eventually found a property owner willing to give her a chance and was able to rent a two-bedroom apartment for her and Christina. Christina had also found employment and was learning some independence. Staff noted that Julie’s positive progress towards independence served as a great model and motivation for her daughter to develop a strong work-ethic like her mother. 

During their time at Becky’s Place Julie and Christina were able to overcome obstacles that had burdened them for years and start a new life they could be proud of together. 

*Name changed for privacy

We are currently serving 14 women and nine children. Seven women are employed, three receive disability benefits, and another four are job searching. We have three women who are ready to move out and are actively searching for a safe home. 

Community Helps Becky's Place Celebrate Easter

It was a very happy Easter at Becky's Place. Residents were able to enjoy a delicious Easter dinner thanks to donations from the community and the support of volunteers. Each child at the shelter also received an Easter basket. It was a very special day for all of the women and children at the shelter.

Mardi Gras Shelterbration Another Great Success

Thank you to all those who joined us for our annual Mardi Gras Shelterbration on Saturday, March 2 at our new location, the Lawrence County Fairgrounds Expo Center. It was a wonderful evening and fun was had by all. It was great to be able to honor Rick Ferguson, Stephane Kluesner, and the late Sister Becky Ryan for their dedication to our program. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and attendees, we were able to raise over $39,000 in support of the homeless women and children that rely on Becky’s Place.

We would like to give a special thanks to all our sponsors for supporting this event.

Using your Retirement Fund for Giving

A qualified charitable distribution from an IRA is a well-established and popular way to give. If you are 70½ or older, this option allows you to make a charitable gift and satisfy your annual required minimum distribution (if one is due) without paying taxes. Whether you want to make a gift of $100, $1,000 or $100,000 (the maximum annual aggregate amount allowed), this is a simple, effective way to make a difference, meet your annual distribution requirements, and enjoy tax benefits. To make a gift from your IRA to any Archdiocesan parish, school or ministry, please complete this form to let us know of your intentions.

Making a Beneficiary Designation

One of the easiest ways to blend gift planning with retirement planning is to name a parish, school or ministry as the beneficiary of your retirement plan.

As the primary, contingent or partial beneficiary, your favorite Catholic cause receives the retirement funds upon your death. Simply consult your retirement plan custodian to update your beneficiary using their easy online form. For more information, please contact CCF at 317-236-1482 or CCF@archindy.org.

Support the Becky’s Place Endowment

Supporting the Becky's Place endowment shows your long-term investment in our mission of providing help and creating hope for homeless women and children. By establishing an endowment through the Catholic Community Foundation, or contributing to an existing endowment, you are helping to ensure a sustainable source of funding for generations to come. Every donation, regardless of size, propels us towards a brighter future. Click here to support the Becky's Place Shelter for Women and Children Endowment Fund. 

To inquire about donating to Becky’s Place, contact Cheri Bush at cbush@archindy.org or

(317) 236-1411

To inquire about Becky’s Place, contact Natale Watson at

nwatson@ccbin.org or

(812) 275-5773

Becky's Place partners with CarEasy.Org to make your donation easy and convenient. Click the image to learn more.

www.beckysplacebedford.org