HAPPY 27th BIRTHDAY, EMMAUS HOUSE! 
   Emmaus House, our home for women coming from jail/prison/rehab, is 27 years old this month.  Amazing Grace!  Over 1000 guest stays and 14 houses later we are still serving the women who come to us, still trying to meet their needs, still working to have them create new and better lives for themselves.  Today, hundreds of people help us accomplish these goals.
   This summer, too, has proved productive for many women here.  Two, Lisa V. and Tausha R., completed the summer semester at Delta College, and three, Lynn S., Lesa P., and Christine B., graduated from CAC’s “Dream Catchers” course (job readiness) and are now doing their internships.  Two women, Dante C. and Kristie B., got their driver’s license, and Christine B., Anne D. (part-time), and Chelsea B. found jobs.   Meanwhile, some celebrated clean-time birthdays, and others got their own homes and moved on, making room for a steady stream of newcomers.  Busy days!

HI was introduced to Emmaus House in 2010. It changed my life then. Now I am starting over, - due to my own choices and thinking. This place can change one’s life if you want it to. I’m going to keep coming with the help of my Higher Power and Sister’s wisdom.She has been a great blessing to me. God bless you.
Ellen W.
House #6

Prior to coming to Emmaus House I had lost everything … my job of 16 years, my home, and most importantly, the trust of my son and family.  My addiction had led me down a dark path of destruction, leaving me completely hopeless and broken.  I found myself in legal trouble and agreed to go to rehab, and while there was given the opportunity to come to Emmaus House.  I knew I needed a lifestyle overhaul, and the structure and stability that this program offers.  Since being at Emmaus House, I am starting to rebuild my life.  I am very grateful for the support and encouragement from Sister Marietta, Carla, staff, and guests that have helped me on my road to recovery.  Many positive changes are happening in my life and I am truly seeing many blessings unfold.  Thank you, Emmaus House, for showing me a new way of life!
Anne D.
House #6

Just wanted to let you know I am now a Medical Laboratory Scientist with a Bachelor of Science Degree.  None of the goodness in my life would be possible without you and your support through the years.  Love always.
 Terina S.
Ex-guest

I appreciate this program for giving me motivation to get a full time job and help me with everyday living, to be dependent on myself.  Also, being on a schedule helps me.
Chelsea B.
House #10

I am here because my life became unmanageable.  I am ready to regain my life.  I hope to obtain a job and pay off some fines, get my high Consumer bill paid, and get my children out of the system.  I am grateful for the Emmaus House because it’s a step in the right direction.  It’s providing a safe, secure place to retain my sobriety, and regain control of my life.
Heather C .
House #12

I am so happy to be here.  My room is bright and homey.  I’m thankful for all of the friends I’ve made and the potential to work and grow here.
Marjie T .
House #14

Truly Emmaus House is a community project.  Even those mentioned below omit many who help us who just appear and then disappear.  God sends many helpers.

• Jerry Ziozios brought us office supplies.
• George Barrett keeps us in batteries.
• 50 New Testament Bibles were donated by the Saginaw East Gideon International     Auxiliary, - via Doris and John Abraham.
• Delta Door repaired our garage door at house #10.  It works now!
• Randy and Mary Pod of NEAB Home Restoration brought us new mini-blinds and vertical blinds.
• Mr. and Mrs. John Wyatt continue to bring us paper and laundry products.
• Scott Atkins, Chris Sieger, Mary Beth O’Conner, and Network Services help with our computers.
• Rodarte Builders gave us three more homes in the Bloomfield area, now occupied, after some repairs, by three of our now ex-guests, Linda C., Martina W., and Dawn H. Thanks, Rodarte.
• Mona Thiel continues to hand our 100 lunches to the neighborhood children each Monday and Friday. On the 29th of August she also gave out a backpack with school supplies to each child.
• And, how can we ever thank our consistently faithful volunteers: Alisa Anderson, Barb B., Craig and Joan Douglas, Joan Wyskiel, Susan McIntyre, Jean and Doug Moore, Bill Schaefer, Bob and Cathy Wheeler (haulers), Sister Kateri Schrems (formats our newsletter), our Emmaus House Board members, all who collect cancelled stamps, coupons, and used grocery bags for us, and all those who bring us donations of every sort. We here are grateful.
• Dan Sheridan and his children and their friends came several Fridays and did yard work, and then on 7/25 returned to paint our 48 ft. ramp, picnic table, and cellar door at house #1. Our back yard has been renewed! (Dr. Dan also supplied the special deck paint and all of the paint equipment.) Dan also gave us a beautiful new lawnmower. (I think that he got tired of using our rickety one.)
• On 6/16 Youth Encounter Service, YES, a high school poverty awareness program spon-sored by the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw, came to help us for several hours. We got a lot done.

• We’ve been blessed with abundant food from: The Mustard See (Spaghetti), Habitat for Humanity, First Ward Community Center, Butter Crust Bakery, Hidden Harvest (bushels of fresh corn), Christ the Good Shepard Parish (cupcakes),and numerous individuals, - Larry and Mary Smith, Barb B.’s gleanings, Kraniaks (sugar, eggs, potatoes), Sam Loiacona (eggs), Chuck Beck (by way of Abele Greenhouse), all sorts of produce, Brandy Benkert (corn, cabbage, etc...), Hugh Lefevre (greens), and Agnes Mazur (carrots and cucumbers), and numerous other home gardeners. Our own garden in the back of house #3, thanks to Joe Malek’s work, has been helping, too. The fresh produce has been a delight!

• Rummage and all sorts of furniture came from St. Elizabeth School (Reese), McBrite Manor (about 100 chairs), First Presbyterian Church of Gaylord (sets of dishes, curtains, etc...) and over 200 individuals since our June newsletter. What our free thrift shop is most in need of is kitchenware and bedding, - all and any. Now that we average 60 plus people each day at the store we can give out almost anything that’s givable.

• Dentists, Dr. Richter and Dr. Puszykowski, are still helping our women.
• Trish and David Hall prepared and brought to us a wonderful 4th of July meal,- for all here. What a treat! And, on a holiday!>

• De-humidifiers for the basements of houses #1 and 2
• Gift bags, any size and any season, and all gift wrapping paper.  Because we celebrate the birthdays of all of our women plus the birthdays of all past women that we are still in contact with, we wrap a lot of gifts.  (Thanks to those who provide the gifts, too.)
• Used grocery bags.  Everyone who comes to the free thrift store wants a bag or two.

• Clothesline, Inc., Frankenmuth
• Blessed Sacrament Parish, Midland
• Listvan, Gaylord
• Catholic Federal Credit Union, Saginaw
• Bethlehem Lutheran Ladies Society, Saginaw
• St. Anthony/St. Joseph, Auburn
• Sisters of St. Benedict, Dayton
• Holy Spirit Parish, Shields
• Countryside Trinity Church, Saginaw

• Dominican Sisters, Grand Rapids
• St. Agnes Church, Freeland
• li>St. John Vianney Parish, Saginaw
• St. Peter Parish, Chesaning
• St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Bay City
• Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, Frankenmuth
• New Life Christian Fellowship, Saginaw
• 71 Individuals

The Dominican Sisters of Peace in Oxford, MI, have donated all of the furnishings from their four- story, now unused, convent. Edna and Gordy Kujawski are managing the "Big Move" with the help of many others. "Big Move" day is September 20th. Want to help? Just let the office know. CAC is allowing us to store the windfall in one of their buildings. 97 chairs, 7 sofas, 34 mattresses, tables, etc... take up a lot of space. Imagine all of the people who will be helped! Saginaw may never have seen the like!

Our loved ones who have died are now with God and God is always with us.  Therefore, our loved ones are with us still.  We thank all who have sent memorials for those they love.        

• Jean Erdman (d.6/5/14)
• Elsie Schade (d. 1/15/14)
• Dr. Malcolm Pike (d. 6/24/14)
• Leo Fritz (d.7/16/13)
• Yolanda Caceres (d. 12/2/10)
• Rod McIntyre

• Gladys Beamish
• Cary Bank
• Monica Kucher
• Geraldine Taylor
• Thomas Spence
• Al and Mary Ann Engel (d. 12/19/13 and 3/6/14)/GROW Fund

• On June 24th Dr. Malcolm Pike began his life in heaven. Dr. Malcolm Pike was instru-mental in getting us house #5, and helped one of our women free of charge. Dr. Pike continued throughout his life to be a great advocate for Emmaus House.
• On July 2nd, Rev. Joan Kemp claimed her heavenly reward. Joan, an Episcopal Deacon, served on the Emmaus House Board for several years.
• Then, on July 22, Mr. Herb Spence, Jr., 84, died. Herb headed Habitat for Humanity for years, and while so doing had Habitat remodel our old Holy Rosary Rectory into five apartments (1991) for our women, i.e., house #2. Herb was marvelous to work with, and a very spiritual man.

• Frank Hudson, in thanks for his caring and concern,
• Michael and Patricia Roggenbuck’s 50th Wedding Anniversary, and
• Dan and Lorraine Koblinski’s 60th Wedding Anniversary.