Mary’s Refuge Opens Doors to a Brighter Future for Mother of Three

By Meg H. Partington

MARTINSBURG—Eight months pregnant and already the mother of two children younger than 3, Caitlin was living in a homeless shelter that would not let her stay after she delivered her baby. All the maternity homes she called in her native Virginia were unable to house the young family.

Doors were closing everywhere she turned until a woman living at the shelter told her about Mary’s Refuge, a maternity home in a former Martinsburg convent. Executive Director Allison Ferrell responded promptly to Caitlin’s pleading email, providing an opening to a better life for the recovering addict and abuse victim.

“I could hear the desperation in her voice, and she had told me how many people she called and already reached out to, with everyone turning her away for one reason or another,” Ferrell recalled.

All nine of the refuge’s rooms were full, but Ferrell and the program manager at the time decided to convert a first-floor computer room into a 10th bedroom so they could welcome Caitlin and her kids. Ferrell’s husband built bunk beds for the two older children to help maximize the space.

On July 28, 2024 — just five days after her C-section — Caitlin and her three children moved into Mary’s Refuge. Her daughter, Laci, is now 3; Ryan Jr. is 2; and Kane is a year old.

“I was scared and felt alone, but my faith in God gave me strength,” said Caitlin, 29. “Through Ayla (Gressler, a licensed therapist and former case manager), Allison and my parents’ support, I began to rebuild.”