Businesses team up with Harbor House shelters

A chance meeting led two local businesses to team up with Harbor House Crisis Shelters.

When a pregnant teen came in to Serenity Spa & Salon to get a haircut, owner Jolene Timmers learned the girl was staying at a Harbor House shelter.

“It just breaks your heart,” she said. “It can happen to anybody, hard times.” Timmers began to cry, and found herself reaching for the phone. She called Harbor House to ask what she could do to help.

This week, she and Wine Beginnings owner Kim Moen began selling reusable tote bags, stocked with coupons and samples, for $5 each. Three dollars from each purchase goes directly to Harbor House.

In addition, visitors can buy raffle tickets for a chance to win a night’s stay at Barker’s Island, a basket full of wine or other baskets filled with products. Every penny from the raffle goes to Harbor House.

Both the raffles and bag sales continue through the end of June. In addition, anyone who stops by the two stores, located in the Timmers Building, 1705 Tower Ave., can also pick up registration forms for the inaugural Harbor House Crisis Shelters 5K Run/Walk, which slated for June 30 along the Osaugie Trail.

Harbor House’s Transitional Living Center served more than 25 people, last year, and the house provided shelter for 477 people, including 267 children, but the shelter had to turn away more than 300 people.

According to executive director Barb Certa-Werner, Harbor House has become the largest shelter provider in Douglas County, and the largest provider in the northern five counties for homeless.

“We need to fund our current service level and expand to additional sites,” she said. “Sheltering those in need will provide an avenue for then addressing other issues of housing, employment, education and domestic violence.”

The 5K is an “active way” for the community to support Harbor House while getting some exercise, Certa-Werner said. It will also bring people together to unite for the cause.

“There will be homeless women, men and children at the event walking and/or running,” Certa-Werner said. “The wonderful thing is that no one will know and no one will care. It is a great equalizer, teaching us that what really matters is working together to make a difference.”

Timmers hopes her eco-friendly pink bags will see a lot of use. Any customer who brings in one of the bags will get a 10 percent discount on any products at the salon or spa. And she hopes customers will choose to actively support Harbor House.

“I’m going to walk,” Timmers said. “I’m walking with my children.” She also invited the community to stop by the Timmers Building for an open house 4:30-6 p.m. June 11. There will be wine and appetizers served, and the Superior-Douglas County Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting for the building’s newest tenant, AirFiber, at 5:30 p.m.

The Harbor House Crisis Shelters 5K Run/Walk begins at 9 a.m. June 30 at the charter fishing dock on Barker’s Island. Entry fee is $25 for runners and walkers, $25 for ghost runners who register, receive a T-shirt then sleep in, and $40 for a family of two or more. Registrants are also encouraged to raise up to $100 in additional sponsorships. For information or registration, contact (715) 394-9608, info@harborhousecs.org or www.harborhousecs.org.

Tags: news, health, family, money, food