We are thrilled to announce that have new leadership with our new Executive Director!
Marie Gabalski, has over a decade of experience in Health, Business Development, and Nonprofit Programming. She is an alum of SUNY Brockport. It is evident to us that she has a heart for the Lord as well as the vision, dedication, and passion to re-igniite us!
She is eager to help the mothers and children we serve and is honored to have the mission handed down from Sarah and Todd Sutay. We are all keeping her in our prayers as she rebuilds the staff and helps us to find a new location.
We are reopening!
Ministries and agencies across Western New York serving pregnant women continue to indicate a need for what we do. We have taken the first step and found an Executive Director and we are continuing to seek and secure financial resources necessary to relaunch.
We are growing our board to help with the work. We have retained a grant writer as well and are always welcoming good volunteers!
With our Executive Director, Marie Gabalski, we plan to move forward with securing a new location, hiring and training staff, and securing transportation while continuing to build our support base.
For the last six years, Light House Station was blessed to rent a huge historic home in the center of Warsaw. While it was nice to spread out, it came with a cost and was more space than we actually need. When the owners of the house needed to sell, we considered purchasing, but wisdom dictated we should find a new location for the ministry.
This we feel is a blessing because finding a new location to host the ministry will be more advantageous for us in the long term not only so we can find something more suitable (cost effective), but also due to the second item: medical care for our ladies.
In June of last year, Wyoming County Community Hospital decided to close their maternity ward and pediatric offices, leaving the nearest labor and delivery facilities over 30 minutes away from Warsaw. These facilities are critical to our ministry that focuses on maternity and baby care.
It would be advantageous to move closer to these services, therefore we are considering locations such as Perry (closer to Geneseo) and Attica (closer to Batavia). Even with these potential locations, we now need a vehicle for the ministry as a critical part of maintaining our mission and future opportunity to help others in the county negatively affected by the hospital’s closure of services.
We are finally emerging from the storm, continuing to listen to the Lord.
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. (NLT, 1 Kings 19:11-12)
We are re-igniting the vision for the future!
Our commitment to Empowering Women for Life remains unwavering! This is not an easy ministry to be a part of, especially where we are in the world. If you have questions or comments, please share through our contact form - we are happy to hear from you.
What happened to the medical services?
Last year, the Wyoming County Community Hospital decided to close their maternity ward and pediatric offices, effective June 1, 2023. The nearest medical facilities for our women are now at least 30 minutes away from Warsaw, in Geneseo or Batavia.
What happened to the house?
Light House Station did not own the house, we were renting. Although the original house is up for sale, it was too big for our needs to be financially viable, and we decided not to pursue purchase.
Where will you reopen?
We intend to rent or purchase a smaller house. We have had a few houses in mind, now that we have an Executive Director, strategic planning is underway.
Where is the money raised going while we are temporarily closed?
All of the money raised goes towards the ministry (new location, new hires, program). The board is voluntary (there is no board compensation), and although there is a Grant Writer on retainer, those fees are already paid.
What is the status of the Board?
The board has actually grown over the last year! We have added two new board members, Jackie Kruetter Miller (businesswoman) and Ted Warner (chaplain). This brings our board up to eight members. Ideally, the board would have two more members - if this is something you feel called to, please connect with us.
When will we reopen?
We need to resecure our financial base, find a new location, hire a team of housing and admin staff, reestablish the program, open back up. Realistically, this could take up to a year.
