Heather’s Haven

A Ministry For Women In Recovery

By Max Fredericks

Twenty years ago, on February 9, 1988, a little girl named Heather was
killed by a drunk driver.  Heather was riding in a car with her grandmother
on Vilas Road in Central Point when a drunk driver slammed into their car. From that
experience, Heather’s grandmother, Betty Frederick determined in her heart to do
something to prevent a tragedy like that from happening to another family.
Fifteen years ago, Betty opened Heather’s Haven, a Christian-based
recovery home for women in Medford where women have learned to live without alcohol
and other drugs. Many have become productive citizens again.  

Statistics show that death rates from traffic accidents in Southern Oregon have been declining. Perhaps some are due to less people on the roads driving while drinking because of the work of Heather’s Haven. Betty likes to think so. Perhaps today, somewhere in this valley, there lives a family whose granddaughter was not killed by a drunk driver because that driver was sober.  
Today Heather’s Haven is in danger of going out of existence. As the years have gone by, time and finances have taking their toll. Betty has never taken any pay for her services.  In fact, each month she and her husband have subsidized the cost of operation.  Last September, Heather’s Haven was forced to suspend operation.
Through the years the women in the program at Heather’s Haven are required to pay a participation fee, but that fee covers only a portion of the actual cost of operation.  Over the past fifteen years the financial support of Heather’s Haven has eaten away at the family finances to the point that the Fredericks are no longer able to bear the financial burden.  Two years ago, Betty underwent heart by-pass surgery and is now growing weary of carrying the full load.
In April, Betty is attempting to resume operation of Heather’s Haven. For this to happen, the community must step forward to help.  Two kinds of help are needed:  Volunteers and Financial support.  Volunteers are needed to help interact with the women.  If you are driven to this cause, please step forward and join the team.  The financial support is for ongoing pledged sponsorship.  Just a few sponsors, pledging to sponsor the difference between the actual cost and what the women are required to pay will allow Heather’s Haven to not only restore the lives of women in recovery, but to save the lives of those who might otherwise become the future victims of a drunk driver.
If the financial support does not materialize, Heathers Haven will not continue.  If you want to support a Christian-based recovery house for women in Southern Oregon, pledges of financial support from the community must be made.  Pledges totaling only a few hundred dollars a month will make all the difference. Pray about it. Visit the web site at www.heathershaven.com or call (541) 664-3591 to volunteer or to make a pledge or donation. Heather’s Haven is a 501(c)(3). charity and donations are tax deductible.

Max Fredericks writes from Central Point, Oregon.