September 24, 2026
When someone walks through the doors of Jessie’s House seeking support, they may be arriving during one of the most difficult and vulnerable moments of their life. Operated by the Jessica Martel Memorial Foundation, Jessie’s House provides safe housing and support to women and children experiencing domestic violence. In those moments, the environment around them matters.
A warm welcome. A comfortable place to sit. A space that feels safe.
This year, United Way’s Heartland Challenge brought local businesses and organizations together to help create just that.
Volunteers rolled up their sleeves to transform spaces throughout the Foundation, revitalizing the side garden, organizing storage and garage areas, assembling an outdoor shed and reconfiguring basement furniture. But one of the most meaningful transformations took place inside: the creation of a new intake room designed with trauma-informed care at its centre.
“The new intake room will have an immediate impact on how we welcome new clients into Jessie’s House, often during some of the most difficult moments of their lives,” says Sarah Higgins, Manager of Operations at the Jessica Martel Memorial Foundation.
Every detail of the room — from furniture and lighting to culturally appropriate toys and books — was intentionally selected to create a warm, safe and welcoming environment.
For Meagan Rokos, Operations Administrator at Wolf Midstream and a Heartland Challenge volunteer, seeing that transformation firsthand made the experience especially meaningful.
“Knowing that the work we were doing could help create a space where people feel safer, more comfortable, and cared for made the experience especially meaningful to me,” she says. “It made me realize that even the physical environment can have a significant impact on someone who may already be experiencing a very difficult and vulnerable time.”
For people accessing support, feeling physically and emotionally safe can help build trust and create the conditions needed to engage with services and begin their healing journey.
“A trauma-informed environment, paired with trauma-informed practices, helps foster a culture of safety, empowerment, and relationship building between clients and staff,” Sarah explains. “When individuals feel physically and emotionally safe, they are more likely to engage in services, build trust, and participate in their healing journey.”
That means the work completed through the Heartland Challenge isn’t simply about improving a facility. It is helping create an environment that reflects the safety, dignity and care that the Jessica Martel Memorial Foundation works to provide every day.
For Meagan, that became clear as she learned more about the Foundation and the people who rely on its services.
“I was overwhelmed by the dedication and compassion of the staff, the incredible facility, and the multifaceted support available to individuals and families,” she says. “It was a real eye-opener to see just how many people rely on Jessie’s House and the Foundation for support and resources during some of the most difficult times in their lives.”
While the physical transformation is visible, the Heartland Challenge created another kind of impact: connection.
By bringing businesses and volunteers into the Foundation, the project offered an opportunity to see firsthand the realities of family violence and the importance of the supports available to people and families.
“Having local businesses and volunteers see firsthand how their hard work and efforts have a direct, tangible impact on the Foundation creates a strong sense of community, teamwork, and shared purpose,” says Sarah. “The project reinforced the power of community partnerships and the positive change that can happen when people come together to support a common cause.”
For Meagan, the experience was a reminder that businesses have an important role to play in building a stronger community.
“Even small contributions of time, funding, resources, or awareness can have a much bigger impact when businesses work together with organizations that understand the needs of the community,” she says.
This is United Way’s Heartland Challenge in action: businesses coming together, rolling up their sleeves and putting community commitment into practice.
And sometimes, creating meaningful change starts with something as simple — and as important — as creating a space where someone can walk through the door and feel safe, supported and cared for.
Learn more about how your organization can participate in United Way’s Heartland Challenge and create community impact.
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