Mary’s Shelter Gulf Coast
Mary's Shelter Gulf Coast (MSGC) was incorporated in 2001 to address the needs of women experiencing an unwanted or unplanned pregnancy. It is patterned on other existing and successful Mary's Shelters in Minnesota, Pennsylvania, California and Florida. The original founder of these Mary's Shelters, Jan Lindsay, was instrumental in founding MSGC, together with a core group of like-minded parishioners from St. Thomas by the Sea Catholic Church. Thanks to the support of area churches, businesses and individuals who believed in the MSGC mission of providing a home to women who were homeless, pregnant and in danger of aborting their baby, the Shelter opened its doors in the spring of 2006.
MSGC mainly serves the counties of Mobile, Baldwin and Escambia in Alabama, and Santa Rosa and Escambia counties in the state of Florida, and is the only charitable organization in this five-county area offering shelter and support to homeless, pregnant adult women, before and after the birth of their child. The Shelter is also open to women from all over the Southeast and beyond, space permitting.
The facility is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. During their stay, our moms learn the life skills needed to take care of their baby and themselves, and secure education and employment leading to independent living. Providing comprehensive care, MSGC aims to meet both the physical and spiritual needs of the mother, empowering each woman to be the best mother possible.
The organization also operates the Gulf Coast Thrift Store, situated at 25289 State Street, in Elberta, Alabama. The store is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 am to 6 pm, and Saturday, 8 am to 4 pm. Donations are accepted on these days between 10 am and 2 pm. Go to gulfcoastthriftstore.com for more information; you can also email [email protected] or call 251-240-8869. Volunteers are welcome!
St. Thomas by the Sea parish has continued to support MSGC over the years. Many parishioners and some of our pastors have served as volunteers on the Board of Directors.
In addition, Bingo is held during the months of January through March in the parish hall, raising an average of $20,000 per season for MSGC.
For more information, contact MSGC at 251-986-6200, or go to the web site, maryssheltergulfcoast.org. Parish contact: Suzanne Laurier, 251-981-1918, [email protected].
