Our Mission
MAH’s mission is to enhance the daily lives of the homeless, ending food and housing insecurity and overcoming hardship by providing an advocacy of community resources and support.
Our Vision
A future where everyone has the peace of mind knowing that they have a place to sleep, enough food to fill their hunger, andhea to warm their body.
Our Values
Passion:
Fueled with desire to make a difference
Service:
Sharing resources and support
Humanity:
Treating everyone with dignity & respect
Impact:
Empowering people to overcome hardship
Who is MAH?
We are a grass-roots 501(c)3 organization (EIN 86-2178587) that acts as an advocate for the displaced and struggling members of our community originating out of Milford, DE and now moving into other locations throughout the State of Delaware. In January of 2021, we incorporated, at the request of the community volunteers. We partner with all community and service organizations in order to make a one-stop place for people in need to find help.
Who do we serve?
We serve those experiencing homelessness, the displaced, and those that are near homelessness. Affordable housing is limited and rentals are common. The “neighbors” we serve are typically between the ages of 21-70, people of all genders and races. We have many people that have experienced significant increases in rent or where their rentals have been sold , resulting in the loss of their homes. They live in their cars, with family/friends, tents, dumpsters, pot-a-potties, abandoned buildings, tents, and open air. Many are working full-time jobs; but challenged to meet their daily needs of laundry, food, and clothing while trying to find a place to live.They experience high anxiety, mental & physical health issues, often have poor diets, have no knowledge of how to budget/save and lack a support group.
Our Partners
Partnering with local resources, nonprofits, and organizations, we serve as a comprehensive hub for individuals experiencing homelessness, housing, or food insecurity. Our mission is to bridge the gap between those in need and the services available, bringing together essential resources in one place. Through collaboration, we strive to create a seamless, supportive network that empowers individuals and families to overcome challenges and regain stability. Together, we are stronger, and together, we can make a difference..
Our Officers
Martha Gery
Founder & President
Martha Gery is the founder and current president of Milford Advocacy for the Homeless, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Milford, Delaware. After moving from Pennsylvania with her husband Keith in 2018, Martha’s passion for serving the homeless was ignited by a personal experience with a family member who faced addiction and homelessness for 15 years. This deeply personal journey fueled her desire to give back to her new community, ensuring that those in need receive support and assistance with dignity, compassion, and respect.
With an MBA in Project Management, Martha leads the nonprofit with a focus on addressing the immediate and long-term needs of the homeless. She continues to dedicate her time and energy to improving the lives of those who are vulnerable, striving to create a community where everyone is supported in their journey toward stability.
Cynthia Dawe
Vice-President
Joyce Dew
Treasurer
Ruth Houston-Behrens
Secretary
Our Board of Directors
Lamont Pierce
Board Member
Loyda Santago-Velazquez
Board Member
Rick Upchurch
Board Member
.
Sharyn Warwick
Board Member
Ryan Martinez
Board Member
Roger Wood
Board Member
John Bathaser
Board Member
John Bathaser relocated to Delaware in 2021 from Strausstown, Pennsylvania, to pursue a new career opportunity. He quickly became involved in the local community and is an active member of a men’s group from United Church in Milford, where he helps serve meals to neighbors in need on the first Thursday of every month. With deep roots in volunteerism, John’s passion for service has always been at the forefront of his life.
For 39 years in Pennsylvania, John was a dedicated volunteer firefighter, serving as both a firefighter and lieutenant, as well as a Trustee for his fire company. His commitment extended to his church, where he contributed as a Trustee and on the building and grounds committee. While a carpenter by trade, John now works as a building materials salesman and is excited to continue using his skills and experience to serve the Milford community.
Our History
- 2019
- We searched for a centralized location for those experiencing homelessness to receive resources and it did not exist in Milford.
- Started helping a couple who were experiencing homelessness
- Connect with Jim Martin at Shepherds Office, in Georgetown & Brandywine Drop-in Center, in Milford and started to build relationships
- Approximately 8 Volunteers
- 2020
- Operations
- Created a Grassroots Facebook Group with less than 20 people providing support, $500 of food weekly and toiletries for displaced and neighbors who were experiencing homelessness and were staying at the Hampton Inn during the pandemic..
- Community Impact
- Starting serving 12 bagged lunches on Thanksgiving, and then weekends and holidays when Brandywine Drop-In Center was not open
- Volunteers & Teams
- Created In-Kind Donations Team – processing donations
- Created Our Daily Bread Team – Cooking & baking meals
- 20 Volunteers, 2 Teams
- Operations
- 2021
- Operations
- Filed and approved for incorporation and 501(c)3 status January 19, 2021
- Community Impact
- Continued to serve lunches every Saturday, Sunday and Holidays. By the end of the year, we were serving approximately 500 lunches a month
- Partnered with “Second Wind Bicycles” to provide 125 bikes
- Began providing temporary housing (tents), sleeping bags, 12 heaters and 1000+ canisters of propane for heat for those who were experiencing homelessness
- Fundraiser/Grants
- Held our first major fundraiser in November through a Quarter Auction raising almost $5000 to provide warming items through the Winter Months
- Volunteers/Teams
- 28 Volunteers, 2 Teams
- Operations
- 2022
- Operations
- Community Impact
- Invited to Tent City by those experiencing homelessness
- Set-up tents to improve physical and mental health
- Partnered with House of David and Stephanie Duke to provide Thanksgiving Meals
- Built ties with the city and participated in the Task Force driven by Jason James
- Added breakfast on weekends & holidays and some dinners,
- Created a Helping Hands Free event and held two of these with approximately 50 at the first and 75 people in attendance at the second
- Provided support and resources to the Warming Center over Christmas through the City providing the Public Works Building
- Started a coalition for services with monthly meetings to provide resources and collaboration as an outcome from the task force
- Continued to provide warming items 20 heaters, 2000+ canister of propane
- Started a new canister program. You give an empty container back in order to get a new one, in order to reduce canister trash.
- Provided 150 bikes
- Served 1500+ meals a month by the end of the year
- Continued to provide clothing, and toiletries
- Fundraiser/Grants
- Obtained an $50,000 ARPA Grant for food, food prep, food storage through the suggestion and help from the City Council
- Held our 2nd (now annual) major fundraiser in November through a Quarter Auction raising almost $4000 to provide warming items through the Winter Months
- Volunteers/Teams
- Created the Marketing/Communications
- Created the Grants Teams
- Created an emergency response team
- 51 Volunteers, 5 Teams
- 2023
- Operations
- Advocated for the displaced Tent City residents and helped them to relocate
- Start to regularly attending City Council advocating for the displaced and homeless when the agenda addressed homelessness and city code
- Began to case manage individuals and saw broader success in providing housing, mental and physical support
- Expanded drop off locations for In-Kind Donations to four locations all provided by volunteering sharing their front porch for drop-off and pick-up
- Expanded our In-Kind Donations and rented two storage units. One for intake and one set-up full shopping to fill requests and emergency needs
- Started to keep statistics and participated in the PIT Count
- Community Impact
- Partnered with House of David and Stephanie Duke to provide Thanksgiving sit-down meals
- Continued to provide warming items 30 heaters, and by February moved away from 16oz disposable propane canisters to gas grill size canisters which provided more heat, less cost and reducing canister trash
- Started to provide emergency food (Blessing Boxes)
- Expanded services into Georgetown and Dover
- Purchased a bus
- Engaged community groups and school student to make 100 P&B sandwiches weekly to handout to those who are in need
- Provided 100 bikes
- Provided 2000+ meals monthly and serving dinner daily
- Started partnering and supporting transition houses in Milford, Georgetown, Dover and surrounding locations
- Held four free community events with 100+ people in attendance
- Fundraisers/Grants
- Held our 3rd major fundraiser in November through a Quarter Auction raising almost $5,000 to provide warming items through the Winter Months
- Volunteers/Teams
- Created the Driving Team – move items around town as we do not have a building
- Created the Power Pak Team – sub team of the ODB Team, focusing on lunch bags
- Created Community Wheels Team – transportation for Code Purple
- 160 Volunteers, 7 Teams
- Recognitions
- 2023 Hometown Hero – Martha Gery
- Operations
- 2024
- Operations
- Continuation of monthly information/orientation meetings
- Continuation of monthly community meeting
- Filed for DBA in all Delaware counties as “Delaware Advocacy for the Homeless” (approved)
- Fundraising/Grants
- Designated as the Library’s Non-Profit recipient of the Christmas Tree Fundraiser $2500 that was used to pay for the bus insurance for a year.
- Received grant from The Lions for $2500 to pay for bus maintenance
- Received grant from Kent & Sussex County 2024 Youth Philanthropy groups for a total of $5,000 for food to continue to feed those in need in both counties.
- Received a $10,000 grant from Carl M Freeman towards our Haven of Hope Project.
- Community Impact
- Continuation of Request Program
- Continuation of Free Bike Program
- Continuation of Feeding the Community Program (Renamed
- Helping Hands Free event at Milford Sr Center (March) 200+ people in attendance.
- Helping Hands Free event at Milford Public Library (July) 200+ people in attendance.
- Partnered with House of David to provide Easter & Father’s Day sit-down meals for the community 150+ served.
- Created a new program: Senior Membership Mental Wellness Sponsorship.
- Created a new program: Laundry of Love: Refreshing Lives with Clean Clothes.
- Created a new program: Healthy Horizons: Bridging Health Equity for those who are Homeless, Displaced or Near Homelessness
- Created a new program: Community Wheels: Empowering Mobility, Enhancing Lives through Community Transit Access Project (CTAP)
- Established Code Orange Cooling Centers (Brandywine Drop-in & Milford Public Library).
- Started expansion of services into Rehoboth.
- Created new website page: Information, Guidance, and Tips.
- Expanded website information as a hub of resources for the community
- Expansion of partnerships in Milford and Dover
- Volunteers & Teams
- A growing number of volunteers, 10 Primary Teams
- Created In-Kind Food Donations Team – Milford (partnership with local restaurants)
- Created In-Kind Food Donations Team – Dover (partnership with local restaurants)
- Created Welcome Home Team – Gathering & Delivering Home Goods for newly housed
- Created the Fundraising Team
- Recognitions
- 2024 Stars of Delaware “Community Outreach”
- 2024 Stars of Delaware “Person of the Year – Martha Gery”
- Operations
Our Primary Teams
- Our Daily Bread: Cooking, Dish & Delivery and Power Pack (Milford & Dover Teams)
- In-Kind Donations: Sorting, filling requests and Laundry (Milford & Dover Teams)
- Drivers: Taking donations, supplies or people from one location to another
- Community Wheels: Transportation to Code Purple, DMV, Social Security & Events
- Fundraising: Holding events/activities to generate income
- Helping Hands: Community events to connect and provide resources
- Laundry of Love: Laundry services for those who work, poverty fixed income, and special needs
- Grants: Locating, submitting and following-up
- Marketing: Press releases, branding, communications
- Welcome Home: Sorting, filling requests and delivering Home Good.
All teams are looking for volunteers. If you have 30 minutes, you can make an impact. You don’t need a skill, just a willing heart. We will walk beside you, teaching you and building a relationship of respect, support and encouragement.
Contact us:
Phone: 302-217-3106
Email: mah@milfordadvocacyforthehomeless.org
Requesting Annual Report 990
In 2023, we filed our 990 as a e-postcard as our gross receipts were under $50,000. For the ease of access to our 990, we have posted it below. This is can also be found by the public on the IRS website.
If you would like to request a physical copy of our e-postcard (see below), requests must be in writing and sent to PO Box 585, Milford, DE 19963. We will provide the copy within 30 days of receipt of the request.
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