“The Shelter Foundation has provided so much for our family. In 2022 following an OIS as well as the sudden traumatic loss of my father, it felt like our marriage was broken and additionally husband was absolutely broken. We were at rock bottom and I had no idea how we were going to get out of it.

I took a leap of faith and emailed the Shelter Foundation begging for help for my marriage. Gracie replied and offered marriage counseling for my husband and I. I finally felt like we were going to get the help we needed that we were unable to find in our own community. We started therapy the next week and our provider identified that my husband had severe PTSD and would need additional therapy outside of marriage counseling.

Our marriage counseling is now going amazing and we are finally coming out of the deep dark hole we were in. The Shelter Foundation provided the funding the therapy we needed and therefore, we have not had to worry about the cost of healing and getting better. We are forever grateful for the Shelter Foundation and all that they have done for us. Such an amazing organization! Thank you will never be enough!”

- Holly

“The Shelter Foundation has truly blessed my husband and I, with an opportunity to go to A Weekend to Remember marriage retreat in the Fall of 2019 in Estes Park. From the generosity of The Shelter Foundation we were able to afford go on this trip and take time to make our marriage a priority. This weekend helped us to reconnect not only as a couple but deepened our understanding of marriage through seeing how God views marriage.”

- Fairleen

“Not long after my husband of 13 years committed suicide I had a good friend reach out to me and tell me that she knew Gracie through another friend and that she wanted to meet me and invite me to her widows group. I very insistently declined and said, ‘No way, her husband died a hero’s death, mine did the opposite. She won’t want to meet me. It’s not the same.’

My friend kept after me to meet Gracie, and so finally I gave in and said I’d meet her for a quick coffee date. Well I’m glad to say I was so wrong. Gracie was so friendly and real about death and disappointment. I went to her next ‘widows dinner out’ and all the women were amazing. We all come from different stories of loss, but we all ‘just get each other.’ We laugh until we cry. We don’t sit there and mourn together but instead take the gift that God has given each of us in having one another to understand completely how we feel inside and take pleasure in that gift. We have fun! We celebrate the gift of girlfriends God has given us in this season. If you’re unsure, give it one dinner out with us. You’ll leave seen and understood and your soul will be refreshed. Ps 23:3. Come join us!”

- Marygrace

“Our marriage had been struggling for a while. We were disconnected and fighting against each other instead of as a team against the problem.

I have been following The Shelter Foundation since its formation and continue to be amazed with the incredible work Gracie is putting in to bring hope to first responder families. Although I was familiar with TSF, it wasn’t until a particularly difficult incident in our marriage that finally made me take action and reach out for help. We had avoided finding a new therapist not only because of its financial burden but feeling it was near impossible to find a Christian counselor who could understand and help with the particular difficulties of a first responder family. Just days after sending my inquiry, Gracie personally called to discuss how they could help. At first, I didn’t feel worthy to accept such an incredible blessing but Gracie assured me this is exactly what they are here for. With the extreme generosity and support of The Shelter Foundation as well as the divine work of God, we were able to find the perfect counselor for our needs without worrying about the financial obligation to get started.

We are now consistently working to improve ourselves and our marriage through counseling along with neurofeedback therapy to combat the trauma and stressors of first responder life. Thank you seems inadequate but we will forever be grateful for the Jesus-like love of The Shelter Foundation.”