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Exhale Women's Fellowship 30 Scott Street, Riverside New Jersey 08075 Phone: (609) 332-2133 Fax: (609)877-0661 |
HISTORY |
Organization's History Exhale Women's Fellowship (EWF) began in 2009, as a program to help encourage and support women who were recently widowed, divorced or experiencing emotional pain on Valentine's Day. What started in a home with 16 women has now become an annual event that hosts close to 300 women in an upscale venue at no cost to them. In 2013, EWF incorporated and became 501 (c ) 3 approved by the Internal Revenue Service. It then broadened its scope to provide encouragement, assistance and mentorship to women of all ages who were facing adversity through widowhood, senior citizenship, divorce, single parenthood, poverty and/or social and legal issues. Staff assists women, many who "fall between the cracks" i.e., who do not meet qualifications for public assistance but face emergency or distressing situations. The organization's mission is to invite women regardless of age, race, creed, religion or economic status to come together as a community to leverage resources to build a support system for women facing crisis and distress. The Adopt-A-Mom/Heart of Mercy program was established to issue financial grants to help women who were experiencing various financial crises such as eviction, loss of utilities and other basic necessities. Services also include finance workshops and mentoring partnerships. In 2015, Exhale Women's Fellowship began a workforce development program called Women of Distinction. This program provides instruction, motivation and resources to assist women who are unemployed or under-employed. Its focus is to help women acquire entry positions or advanced positions in the workplace. It also provides instruction to women who desire to become entrepreneurs. Also in 2015, EWF began its Comforts of Home outreach to women and children living in area motels. Recently, the organization has received more calls from homeless women, some with children, some sleeping in cars and outdoors. The organization has paid to shelter them in area motels for a short-term until they could establish more permanent housing solutions. Exhale Women's Fellowship has established affiliations with Providence House Domestic Violence Services of Catholic Charities of Trenton, New Jersey, Saint Vincent De Paul Society and Sisterhood, Incorporated of Burlington, New Jersey, Impact Ministries in Delran, New Jersey and Life Focus Center in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. |