This site has limited support for your browser. We recommend switching to Edge, Chrome, Safari, or Firefox.

Learn more about The Widow Project

About

Our mission is to equip young women who have aged out of foster care to live with purpose and freedom.

We believe everyone is uniquely created with value, and designed to live with purpose. Our circumstances do not determine our future.

We are defined by our redemption, not our past.

When we became a nonprofit in 2018, our name was Oh Lord Help Us. We were doing many different things to help many women. We were scattering a lot of seeds. 

SEEDS

There was one seed that sprouted quickly, Hope and Vine. This was a social enterprise that would provide employment and mentoring for young women who have aged out of foster care. 

But - It was just a part of what we did.

PRUNING

That first year took a lot of energy and like any plant you want to grow in a healthy way, we underwent quite the pruning. This pruning meant letting go of the other things we were trying to do as a nonprofit. 

It was quite painful but definitely necessary. This was a season of refining, not a season of growth.

DEEPENING

First, we had to deepen our roots. We knew what to do, but we needed to do it better. Throughout 2020 and 2021 we began to take the steps to focus on who we were serving, what was possible to do, and where we wanted to go.

This meant clarifying and focusing on what it is we do. Yes, we provide employment, but that is simply the means that allows us to:

  • build relationships, 
  • mentor, 
  • listen, and 
  • understand their needs so we can get them connected to resources that will be beneficial.
GROWTH

2022 was a process of growing slow and steady while still being able to deepen our roots. 

Early in the year, we hired a Site Director. This role allows our participants to connect with needed resources, coach them through making a plan for their next steps, and make sure that each of them know they are cared for. We also moved our workshop supervisor into an operations role, which allows us to stay organized and be efficient.

Also, we officially changed our name! It was time. As we grew and become refined, it became clear that Hope and Vine made more sense for our identity and focus.

RESILIENCE

In 2023, we are learning to be resilient. Resilient means being able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions. To keep going when there are set backs. 

Last year, we had plans to open a second location. Unfortunately, this was not to be. Partnerships we believed would be a sure bet, fell through. Team members we planned to hire couldn’t accept the position. 

Set back after set back. Yet we kept moving forward, taking one step at a time. Instead, we are utilized the resources we already had and doubled the work days at our shop here in Wake Forest. 


BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Cathy Easop – Board President
Patricia Jones – Vice President
Joan Wilkinson – Treasurer


Danielle Oates - Secretary
Meredith Hilbert
Katrina Anderson


STAFF

Rachael Smith

Executive Director

Rene Monnot

Program Director

Jessica Stone

Fundraising & Community Engagement

Stephanie McKinney

Workshop Supervisor

Use coupon code WELCOME10 for 10% off your first order.

Cart

Congratulations! Your order qualifies for free shipping You are $200 away from free shipping.
No more products available for purchase