The Capital Campaign: The Future of Safety, Stability, and Independence
Something big is happening at Sheltering Wings. Your support is needed to help create a safer future for survivors.
On the other side of our kitchen wall, we have some really exciting developments. We’ve started construction on a project to help bring more safety, stability, and independence to our families. I’d love to show you. Click to see for yourself.
First up, we are expanding our dining room. Just like for many of us, our dining room and our kitchen is the heart of Sheltering Wings. This is where a lot of life happens—birthday parties, cooking dinner together, all of the things that we do to celebrate life and also mourn life.
I remember meeting a client in here, and she was really discouraged. She was telling me about how she felt like all of the other clients were moving forward, they were progressing, and she felt so stuck.
As we were talking about it, I thought, “Man, how often do all of us sometimes feel like that?” Those are real emotions. Those are real experiences that we have, and those are things that our staff came together and really rallied around this client to help her move forward and build that safety, stability, and independence.
When we finish out this new kitchen space, we’re going to be able to do even more of that. We’ll be able to bring all of our clients and all of our staff together to connect, to move forward, and to really build that hope for the future that they’re looking for.
Next up, I am so excited about two new resident rooms here in the building. One will become our emergency overnight room.
For families that come to us in the middle of the night, they don’t have to stay in our teen room and sleep on a futon anymore. They’ll have a private bedroom and a private bath—the comfort of their own space.
By adding these two resident rooms, we’re going to increase our capacity to serve 25 more people every single year. But with all of the renovations, we’ll be able to serve 125 more people, both inside and outside the shelter.
Completing the first phase of construction is our gym and our children’s space. We are so excited about it.
Every time I come in here, I’m reminded of a time when I was giving a donor a tour of this space, and a little boy popped up from around the corner and said, “Welcome to my hotel, but don’t ask to see a swimming pool. They don’t have one.”
I just laughed as this little boy said that, and I looked over at the mom. What I realized is that she had told the little boy they were staying in a hotel instead of a shelter. It made them feel more comfortable, and that’s okay. It’s about what makes each family feel safe and comfortable here.
As we’re redoing this space, I’m so excited about being able to invest in those little kids. We’ve got new space here that will be dedicated for infants, toddlers, teens, and everything in between.
As we’re doing this, we’re thinking about how we can help them grow, learn, and heal from what they’ve experienced. And you are helping to plant those seeds for these kiddos.
Friends, this is just the beginning. Our building has two more major phases of construction to go. Next will be offices and meeting spaces to help us serve even more people.
But can I be real with you for a second? It’s not about this building. It’s about the holy and urgent work that’s happening in this place and through our programs.
The real work of this campaign is to build a future of safety, stability, and independence.
The families we’re serving have been really hurt by the people they love. They’ve lost all of their daily normalcy, and they have to start over from scratch.
We see how hard they work every day. Their grit and determination inspire us to work as hard as we can to help them end the cycle of abuse.
You’ve heard us say that 80% of those who found shelter within our walls last year exited to safety, and that’s amazing. And we can’t—and we won’t—go back.
We need you to join us today to stand up for the future of survivors. Learn more about the donation match and capital campaign at: ShelteringWings.org/2026-capital-campaign
With gratitude,
Cassie Mecklenburg
Executive Director
