TESTIMONIALS

“My firefighter husband and I were having serious marital problems and an emotional affair even occurred. He moved out for a while and we were lost on what to do. I started googling options for marriage help for first responders and I came upon The Shelter Foundation.

Today, Jason and I are completely in love again. We both got saved. NONE of this would have been possible without the help of The Shelter Foundation. I want to donate to help another hurting family because the work you do, the help you provide, is SO important. The Shelter Foundation ultimately saved our family. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND CHANGING LIVES AND MARRIAGES!

Thank you is not enough but it's all we can say right now.” - Amber

“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

"Overwhelmed by The Shelter Foundation. Made me weep because I felt that God cares about our marriage, and hasn't given up on us."

- Danny

“My wife and I were able to attend a marriage retreat through the generous gift of The Shelter Foundation. The foundation paid for all of our accommodations and helped us strengthen our marriage at no cost to us. Being a first responder has challenged our marriage and I am extremely thankful and grateful that we were able to attend the marriage retreat. We were able to spend some much needed time together, strengthen our marriage, and get strategies to help us when things inevitably become challenging once again. Thank you to The Shelter Foundation and everyone involved for affording us this opportunity.”

- Charlie

“Our marriage had been struggling for a while. There were times over the past few years that my husband and I were both on the verge of giving up. Between raising 3 young children, substance abuse, the tragic loss of my brother taking his own life and the trauma that officers face on a daily basis, our marriage was bearing its brunt. We were disconnected and fighting against each other instead of as a team against the problem. We had tried marriage counseling before but after a few sessions did not feel a good connection with our therapist or that it was doing anything to help with our issues. 

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. Her God-given strength and love for people is so apparent in this foundation. 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. No one should have to face these types of issues alone and with the help of The Shelter Foundation, we were able to take the necessary steps to not only save our marriage but change our lives and relationship with God. “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” - John 10:10.

Thank you seems inadequate but we will forever be grateful for the Jesus-like love of The Shelter Foundation.”

“No one tells you when you are younger that marriage is going to be hard and take work. You expect it to be a walk in the park and when it isn't, you feel like a failure.  Being married to a first responder comes with a lot of baggage. Finding a support system that understands your struggles and wants to be your "marriage cheerleader" truly makes all the difference. By no means does one thing "fix" your marriage, but having a foundation that gives you resources to make it the best it can be, makes all the difference!  I am beyond thankful for The Shelter Foundation and what they have done for my marriage and my family. We now know that we aren't "broken" and have the tools to get through the challenges we face daily.”

-H.T.

Before we attended The Weekend To Remember retreat, our marriage was at its breaking point. With the birth of our son and the addition of unexpected stressor at work and at home, we grew further and further apart. We felt like strangers despite knowing each other for over half of our lives. While researching marriage counseling, I stumbled across The Shelter Foundation and saw that they offered scholarships for the WTR retreat. I decided to apply and unexpectedly we were offered a scholarship which allowed us to attend, without which it would have been impossible. The retreat changed our lives and our marriage and we are healing more and more each day. We are so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to attend.

- Courtney

“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

"I stumbled on the Shelter Foundation website while trying to find a 1st responder based counselor for my wife and I. I reached out to them and received a response within 24 hours, giving me both financial grant options, as well as counselors in the area who focused on pre-hospital mental health. Since that interaction with the Shelter Foundation, I have been able to link up with an amazing couples' counselor and receive financial support to continue my journey of improving my mental wellbeing and working to strengthen my marriage. Super blessed to receive such support from a local organization focused on making mental health accessible to 1st responders!”

- Jessey

“When I started my very first bible study with the Shelter Foundation, I had never ever been to a study in my life before, I could not even call myself a Christian. The Shelter Foundation is giving me an opportunity to start my journey in building my personal relationship with God, along with women who are wives of first responders. After my first season of study my husband commented on how he has seen so many changes in me, more than I had in two years of counseling.”

— Laura-Kate

“The Shelter Foundation started my love for women-based bible studies. Gathering together with other wives of first responders helped me through difficult times that I didn’t think anyone else would understand. Studying God’s word and gathering with these women who “get it” not only strengthened my walk with God, but it strengthened my marriage as well!”

— Roni

“In August 2019, a fellow LEOW Jenni, asked me to join a Bible study through The Shelter Foundation. I had just started a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual make-over. I was, and still am, a stay at home mom (including homeschooling) to our four kids. At the time our kids were ages 8, 6, 4 and 3. I was reserved as I hadn't put myself into the adult world for many years. Jenni told me the study provided free daycare for the kids. Two hours, with adults and no kids, I was in! Wrong reason, obviously, but I am grateful I joined! What an incredible experience the study was! I learned to put God first, I made several lasting friendships and I enjoyed the actual reading of the Bible and the workbooks, they gave me a purpose. I loved our table discussions; hearing other ladies' stories and sharing my own. The laughter, the tears, the support and the love were just what I needed! I am forever thankful for Gracie and The Shelter Foundation. Thank you!”

- Jill

“Will you please pass our thanks along to Gracie and The Shelter Foundation for sponsoring Buckaroo Day! We all had an amazing day and so appreciate the love that was shown to the first responders and their families today! It was such a wonderful experience and we cannot wait to do it again next year!”

- Morghan