Blessing House honors 'heroes' at luncheon

ELYRIA — Blessing House, Lorain County's children's crisis care center, recognized 20 individuals who affected the children it serves at a luncheon Tuesday. "Be a Hero in the Eyes of a Child" highlighted the police officers, teachers, community leaders, ministers and court personnel to work with the agency, the county's only licensed youth emergency care site. Some, like St. Anthony of Padua Principal Julio Alarcon, were nominated by a student; Lorain Police Detective Chris Kovach was nominated by the parent of a child in a difficult situation, or the Rev. Melissa Somers at Beyond the Walls Church who was nominated by a parent for the way she is always there for the children of her congregation. All, Executive Director Sister Mary Berigan said, made a difference in the life of a child the center serves. State Rep. Gayle Manning, R-North Ridgeville, agreed, noting Blessing House, and the individuals who support it, have made a difference in Lorain County. And the children the shelter has served over its 17 years are heroes as well to be able to survive the situation they're in and move forward, thanks to Blessing House staff. Michelle Gilchrist, a representative from Gov. Mike DeWine's office, attended the event in lieu of Fran DeWine, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week. Growing up in South Lorain, Gilchrist said attending the event holds a special place for her, and she gave a shout-out to South Amherst Mayor Dave Leshinski, her former track and cross country coach, as a hero in her own youth. Reading DeWine's remarks, she said Blessing House addresses not only the immediate needs of a child in crisis but provides them hope for tomorrow. "We are a stronger, better Ohio because of you," Gilchrist said. The center started as an idea in 2001 between Donna Humphrey and Berigan, who were both guardian ad litems in the county's children's advocacy program. The pair felt parents didn't have enough help when dealing with emergencies in their own lives. The shelter opened in 2005, providing residential care for children in crisis, expanding to provide additional support including a child advocacy program, and familial support through advocacy, outreach and connecting caregivers with community support. Since then, more than 1,650 children have passed through the center's doors. One of those children was in the crowd Tuesday. Berigan pointed the young man who had celebrated his fifth birthday in the newly open Blessing House 17 years ago, noting he was much too big to fit into the blue pajamas she remembered him happily watching television in all those years ago. In Lorain County, there are some kids who don't have an adult they can call on when in crisis, she said, and implored those in attendance to be that person for the children in their lives. Individuals honored Tuesday included St. Anthony of Padua Principal Julio Alarcon, Fit for Youths founder Terry Atkinson, Stop the Violence founder Kyriece Brooks, CEO of Elevation Training Center Sharod Brown, Big Sister Jennifer Casey, Kinship Caregiver and advocate Renee Collins, youth Ministry House of Healing director Tammy Ethington, ACES director Mike Ferrer, Lorain Police Officer Mike Folley, carpenter Jerry Galant, Lorain County Common Pleas Domestic Relations Judge Sherry Glass, Catholic Charities Help Me Grown program director Brenda Hernandez, Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services Child and Adolescent Services Director Rebecca Jones, Lorain Police Det. Chris Kovach, Lorain County Urban League Education and Youth Development Coordinator Achilles Morales, Lorain Schools English as a second language teacher Sandra Peloquin, Harrison Cultural Community Centre board member Sally Peoples, Lorain County Domestic Relations Court Deputy Chief Probation Officer Donna Rivera-Wells, Beyond the Walls Church Pastor Melissa Somers, and Head Start Family Engagement Specialist Maria Vasquez. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.