Group makes Christmas brighter at Marsh

VW independent/submitted information

For the fourth year in a row, Project Believe has helped to make Christmas a little brighter for youths at The Marsh Foundation. The program, which originated in 2007, has grown from serving 10 kids at Christmas to more than 200 at seven facilities in two states.

Tammie Rafferty, the group’s founder, was inspired to help others by her own daughter’s circumstances. The organization’s mission is to enrich the lives of youths and their caregivers in residential treatment centers. They provide gifts at Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, and back-to-school time at various facilities.

Christmas gifts include things like pajamas, blankets, books, board games, art sets, and journals. Each group home also received a bag of items to share, and staff members were treated to homemade cookies.

This year, two Marsh Foundation employees decided to attend the organization’s wrap party and help organize and wrap donated gifts.

“It was a spur of the moment decision,” said Julie Hess, senior hall program manager. She and Naomi Robertson were in the area visiting another young person and decided it was a stop they should make.

“We were so glad that we were able to attend and had a great time,” Hess added. “It was awesome to be able to give back a little to an organization that has helped us and our kids so much.”

Area residents can learn more about Project Believe by visiting the group’s website at www.projectbelive.net or by contacting Rafferty directly at tammierafferty@outlook.com.

The Marsh Foundation is a not-for-profit children’s services agency that provides behavioral treatment in a variety of settings. Services include group homes, family foster care, an intensive treatment program and independent living. Located in Van Wert, the organization’s group homes are licensed for up to 36 children ages 7-17, offers an on-campus school for grades 2-12 and provides a variety of clinical services to group home residents, foster care children and community members.

The mission of The Marsh Foundation is to inspire hope, to teach and to care for children and families. For more information about The Marsh, visit www.marshfoundation.org.