Annual Report

Cartober

September 22, 2025By

Cartober is a month to share how your used vehicle donation can support nonprofit organizations.

We partner with Charitable Adult Rides & Services (CARS) to accept donations of cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, and boats to our mission.

Corissa Phillips, our external relations director, recently donated her 23-year-old vehicle to CARS.

“I had an emotional connection to that old blue station wagon. It was the first car I ever purchased as an adult, and both of my kids had driven it at some point during high school and college,” she remembers.

“It had body damage, a broken tire rod, duct tape repairs to the roof. It hadn’t started for more than a year.”  

The CARS donation team assured Corissa the parts had value, so long as she had the title, even if the vehicle wasn’t roadworthy. The towing was free, and she wouldn’t be charged any fees. 

Only a week after initiating the donation, Corissa watched as her old station wagon was towed down the driveway. She was notified it sold at auction two weeks later and $223.47, equal to 70% of the sale, was being transferred to GreenHouse17. 

“I was really surprised my old car sold for that much! I should’ve done this years ago,” she says.

Follow this link to donate your car, truck, motorcyle, boat, RV, or other vehicle to support our mission.

READ MORE
Blog

Volunteers Matter

August 20, 2025By

Time & Talent

Michael Watts was first introduced to our organization when his wife discovered the farm while looking for flowers for their church’s garden exchange.

He soon began donating to the mission and volunteering to help with big community events like Shop & Share.

“I have three sisters, and women in many contexts are regarded as second class. That’s a great unfairness,” Michael says. “I volunteer to help lift up the women that come here.”

After retiring, Michael found more time to lend his hands on the farm, where his efforts have made a lasting impact. Recently he has been clearing a path and circle seating space in a wooded area on the property for residents.

“To me, taking a walk through the woods is a very calming and spiritual experience.”

Are you looking for a volunteer match for your interests? Our current opportunities, onsite and remote, are listed on our website here.

Read the Summer 2025 Issue of Bloom

This is one article from our print newsletter. Follow the link above to read the full issue!

READ MORE
person holding bears in front of bulletin boardBlog

Arlington Elementary

August 13, 2025By

Sew Sweet!

Fourth and fifth graders at Arlington Elementary lovingly sewed more than 70 teddy bears for children living at our emergency shelter.

“Our students learned to hand sew, cut a pattern, stuff their bear, and were so proud of themselves with their finished product,” explains Kristen Blaker, Art Teacher and Sustainability Coordinator.

The project was supported with a grant from CHI St. Joseph Health to promote art and kindness at school. Members of our staff attended a special pep rally to accept the donation.

Each bear is as unique as the student who made it, and every bear was made with love, from the heart of one child to another.

“The students created a handwritten note to put in their heart pocket on the bear,” shares Ms. Blaker. “Some of these were tearjerkers, as we have students who know hardships firsthand.”

Read the Summer 2025 Issue of Bloom

This is one article from our print newsletter. Follow the link above to read the full issue!

READ MORE
sunflower field with person in hat standing upBlog

New Survivor Stipend Match

August 11, 2025By

A new one-time grant from Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government’s Office of Homelessness Prevention and Intervention (OHPI) will support nature-based healing and stability after surviving abuse.

Survivors living at the shelter experience the benefits of nature in many ways—from farm walks to nutritious meals. Adult survivors may choose to participate in a focused six-week project that provides a stipend for their contributions to the farm’s day-to-day operations.

“The stipend was amazing for me,” shares Eboni, a past stipend project participant. “I was able to save $200, get clothes for my son and me, fix my car, and even buy a washer and dryer for our new apartment.”

Funding from OHPI will provide a dollar-for-dollar match on the value of stipends earned by survivors. Matching funds can be applied to self-identified barriers to economic stability. Examples include expenses like car repairs, rental fees, job uniforms, medical care, and savings accounts.

“Nearly every person we serve has also suffered financial abuse,” shares Diane Fleet, associate director. “Survivors often face a long list of expenses that can delay and, too often, hinder progress made toward economic stability. Removing just a few of those barriers can make all the difference.”

“For future participants receiving more, it’ll just double their chances for success,” adds Eboni.

You can support survivors participating in the farm stipend program by attending a U-Pick Day on the farm in August or September! Click here to reserve your bucket for some flower picking fun.

Read the Summer 2025 Issue of Bloom

This is one article from our print newsletter. Follow the link above to read the full issue!

READ MORE
police officer holding radioBlog

Lethality Assessment Program

August 7, 2025By

A new program partnership will offer support in Scott County and Frankfort.

A nationally recognized Lethality Assessment Program is expanding to Kentucky, thanks to leadership by ZeroV, the state coalition of domestic violence programs, and Merryman House in Paducah.

This evidenced-based strategy developed by the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence reduces intimate partner homicides and serious injuries.

Equal partnership between victim service providers and law enforcement is a cornerstone of the program and the Scott County Sheriff’s Office and Frankfort City Police Department were eager to sign on.

The program equips these law enforcement offices with 11 screening questions to help identify victims at the highest risk of being killed by an intimate partner. When high risk is indicated, officers immediately call the GreenHouse17 crisis hotline from the scene.

Survivors will speak directly with an advocate about safety planning and available services.

“This program is proven to save lives,” says Darlene Thomas, our executive director. “We’re grateful for the partnership of law enforcement and sister organizations to bring the first Lethality Assessment Program to central Kentucky.”

Read the Summer 2025 Issue of Bloom

This is one article from our print newsletter. Follow the link above to read the full issue!

READ MORE
Blog

House Bill 38

July 31, 2025By

Mary Ann’s Story Continues. Read the first part here.

After their phone call, Mary Ann and Representative Tipton began drafting legislation to hold abusers accountable. Their work would become known as HB 38 during this year’s Kentucky General Assembly.

She received another call from the congressman after the bill was filed. He asked Mary Ann to share her testimony with the House Standing Committee Judiciary.

Although nervous, Mary Ann remembers feeling supported from the moment she arrived at the Capitol Annex. She bravely shared her story and called for change.

“Today, I stand here with the hope that this bill will pass with essential provisions to escalate repeated domestic violence offenses to felony charges.”

The committee voted to pass the bill to the House of Representatives, which unanimously voted to approve.

This moved the bill to the Senate Standing Committee Judiciary. Mary Ann testified for a second time, inspiring the committee to move the bill to the full Senate.

She returned to Frankfort a few weeks later to witness the Senate’s vote and received a standing ovation from the crowd. Governor Beshear signed the legislation into law this March.

Per Kentucky Revised Statutes, the violation of an order of protection by a person convicted of two or more previous violations in five years is a Class D felony, if the third or subsequent violation uses or attempts to use physical force or threatens physical harm. The protected person can differ across violations.

Read the Summer 2025 Issue of Bloom

This is one article from our print newsletter. Follow the link above to read the full issue!

READ MORE
21 Years

Mary Ann’s Story

July 31, 2025By

“I have reclaimed my strength and my voice.”

On the morning of December 18, 2022, I was jolted awake by my now ex-husband, only to find myself being brutally attacked.

I was hit in the head with a phone, my face busted, knocked to the ground, held down by the back of my neck, and told I was going to be killed if I said anything or moved.

I lay there, my mind racing with a single thought. I don’t want to die. The man staring at me was not the man I had married. I knew I had to run.

I broke free and sprinted out the door. I ran up the driveway, down the road, and finally ducked behind a truck. My hands were shaking as I dialed 911.

He was arrested that night, but less than two weeks later, he was released on bond with an ankle monitor. I was granted a temporary Emergency Protective Order (EPO) until our court hearing on January 10, 2023.

On that day, the court issued a three-year no contact Domestic Violence Order (DVO).

The order meant nothing to him. He wasted no time violating it, calling and leaving 23 messages within five days. The ankle monitor offered no real protection–he had already decided he was coming for me.

As a survivor of domestic violence, I continue to endure the ongoing actions of my abuser every day. My ex-husband has violated the protective order against him more than 50 times, yet each offense has been classified as a misdemeanor.

When does it stop?

I reached out to James Tipton, my state representative, and left a voicemail about my situation. He called me the next day…

Mary Ann’s phone call with Representative Tipton would make history. Her story continues here.

This is only part of Mary Ann’s story, in her own words, shared with permission.

Read the Summer 2025 Issue of Bloom

This is one article from our print newsletter. Follow the link above to read the full issue!

READ MORE
Blog

Justice for Families

April 14, 2025By

Improving Safety for Children and Parents

A new federal grant will strengthen our community’s safe visitation and exchange services for children.

The three-year award was received through a competitive application for Grants to Support Families in the Justice System, commonly known as the Justice for Families Program. Only 24 communities in the nation were selected for funding last year.

“This is a major investment that responds to a critical need in our communities,” says Scott Lancaster, manager of our safe exchange and visitation program. “The funding helps stabilize the operation of our existing services while expanding partnerships to support children and their parents.”

The Justice for Families Program is dedicated to improving the civil and criminal justice system for families with a history of intimate partner abuse and other violence. Guiding principles of the program include equal regard for the safety of children and adults through respectful and fair interactions.

A team united in these goals will bring varied experience and perspective to the effort. Partners include the Board of Directors for the Lexington Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Coalition, Georgetown Police Department, and Boyle County and Mercer County Family Court.

“Children deserve safety and predictability. I’m proud that our organization was able to ensure continuation of safe visitation and exchange services in the region seven years ago and honored the program has received federal support.”

The Grants to Support Families in the Justice System program is authorized by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 2013 per 34 U.S. Code § 12464. Neither the funder nor its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this program, including, without limitation, the program content, technical infrastructure, policies, and any services or tools provided.

Read the Spring 2025 Issue of Bloom

This is one article from our print newsletter. Follow the link above to read the full issue!

READ MORE
Blog

Gray’s Groundbreaking Women

April 7, 2025By

Hooray for Gray’s!

Gray’s employee driven cooperative, Groundbreaking Women, demonstrates their leadership through action and impact.

They have volunteered their time to organize the emergency shelter, collect gifts for the holidays, and wear so much purple to raise awareness during Purple Thursday and Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Last year, they also undertook an archiving project, organizing documents from our early years as a nonprofit. This initiative preserves our history while honoring the strides made toward safety and empowerment.

“We’re so grateful for the support of the Groundbreaking Women,” shares Corissa, our external relations director. “This is a group that exemplifies partnership and community. They get things done!”

Through every effort, Gray’s Groundbreaking Women embody the values of collaboration and compassion, making a lasting difference for our organization and survivors of intimate partner abuse.

Read the Spring 2025 Issue of Bloom

This is one article from our print newsletter. Follow the link above to read the full issue!

READ MORE
Blog

Blood Center Partnership

March 31, 2025By

Healing Together

Donors at select Kentucky Blood Center locations could choose to give the value of their thank you gifts to our organization during the Healing Together campaign in November and December.

The partnership raised an incredible $7,500 to support services for survivors.

“We love partnerships that allow our generous blood donors the chance to help another great local nonprofit. Far too many families are impacted by intimate partner abuse and we’re thrilled to be able to support the work our friends at GreenHouse17 do every day to assist people in need at a very critical time,” says Mandy Brajuha, VP of external relations at the Kentucky Blood Center.

The community’s generosity made a significant impact, contributing to lifesaving blood donations while also providing critical funds to support survivors.

“Although our missions are accomplished in different ways, both of our organizations are committed to nurturing lives and need community support to be successful,” adds Darlene Thomas, our executive director.

Read the Spring 2025 Issue of Bloom

This is one article from our print newsletter. Follow the link above to read the full issue!

READ MORE