The Marquette Women’s Center needs a bit of help from the community it has so ably served for many years and it’s a situation we’d like our readers to seriously consider.

Because of a generous matching gift, center officials are in a position to pay off the mortgage of Harbor House, the center’s domestic violence shelter. Donors Rod and Holly Aldrich will match all gifts in 2018 that are directed to pay off the $507,000 mortgage. Any pledge of $20,000 or more can be paid in two or more installments though 2019, a center press release notes.

To date, $135,000 has been raised towards a goal of $253,500. Local foundations, such as the M. E. Davenport, the Frazier Fund, the Phyllis and Max Reynolds Foundation, and River Valley Bank Foundation have all provided substantial gifts towards the match. That leaves about $118,500 yet to be raised.

“Paying off Harbor House will greatly improve our ability to help women, men and children in crisis well into the future,” said Lucy Grove, the organization’s president.

It costs about $90,000 a year to operate the 16-bed Harbor House. Of that amount, about $31,200 goes to pay down the mortgage, funds which could be earmarked to improve and expand the facility’s programming. State grant funding also provides significant support.

And make no mistake, there is a compelling need.The facility provides a 24/7 support line, emergency response and crisis intervention, a safe haven for women, men and children, individual and group counseling, resource and educational information and a wide array of advocacy services to survivors and their children.

Want to help? Information on Harbor House and this matching gift is available at www.mcmqt.org or by calling 906-225-1346.