December 24, 2004/Tevet 12 5765, Vol. 57, No. 17
No place like home
STEPHANIE N. HENSCHEL
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 Lori Henley, left, and Bonnie Cohen play with a toddler at Marcus House. The child cannot be identified due to confidentiality. Photo by Stephanie N. Henschel |
Bonnie Cohen is a big believer in the old adage. That's why she founded Marcus House, a shelter for children from birth to 5 years of age.
The children she takes in are typically abused, abandoned, some even homeless. They come to Marcus House to have a home.
In February, the shelter relocated to newer digs, thanks to a generous donor, Joanne New, who loaned the organization $59,000 and gave them $25,000.
The new home has a larger yard - great for the kids to play in - and there are three bedrooms (the old house only had two).
"It's nice to have room," Cohen says.
A group of women, organized by Lisa Shaw, donated all the furnishings for the house, including murals painted in each of the bedrooms.
Rosie Romero, a contractor who hosts a radio show on KTAR, even pitched in, organizing a group of contractors to make the necessary renovations to the home to adapt it to shelter use. The work - about $80,000 worth - was donated through RosieOnTheHouse.com.
The first and second phases of the renovations have been completed, according to Romero, and the third and largest phase is set to begin - the adding of a room, which will function as an office.
The shelter, which has been open for 10 years, operates mostly on contract from Child Protective Services and donations.
"Since we've begun, we have a core of donors that give us ongoing help with all the items we need," Cohen says.
Donations go toward operational costs, including the salaries of the 11-member staff.
"We gratefully accept donations to keep afloat," she says.
Cohen, who was previously a case manager with CPS, says it was because of that job that she opened the shelter.
"When I removed a child from a horrific situation, I felt sad at having to put them in shelters that didn't meet their needs and were equally traumatic as the situation I took them out of," she says.
To make a donation or learn about volunteer opportunities, call Cohen at 602-266-6150.