History

The story of Sheltering Wings begins with a call from God; a call to provide a safe place for women and children suffering from domestic violence in Hendricks County.

"Let me dwell in thy tent for ever! Oh to be safe under the shelter of thy wings!" (Psalm 61:4)

In 1999 a group from Cornerstone Christian Church in Brownsburg, Indiana identified the need to build a shelter and in April of 1999 Sheltering Wings Center for Women was incorporated as a nonprofit organization, under the tax exempt status of 501 (c)(3).

Sheltering Wings began serving clients even as the shelter was being designed by Quandt Engineers and Architects and built by Edwards-Rigdon Construction Company.

The generous investments of $650,000 from the Lilly Endowment, Hendricks County Community Foundation (formerly White Lick Heritage Community Foundation), Hendricks County Government, and the Hendricks County Community Development Corporation went to building construction.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis, through Lincoln Federal Bank, donated $400,000 toward the construction of Sheltering Wings. Hendricks Regional Heath (formerly Hendricks Community Hospital), with the endorsement of the Hendricks County Commissioners, donated the land on the hospital campus where the shelter is built.

Construction began in March 2001 and was completed in October 2001. Sheltering Wings became operational in November 2001.

In January 2002 Sheltering Wings began providing 24-hour services and shelter to domestic violence victims. Since that time Sheltering Wings has served over 1,100 women and children with housing and has given resources to over 5,000 crisis callers.

Since opening, Sheltering Wings has operated at near capacity, serving between 11 and 15 families at a time.

Today, Sheltering Wings has an 9-member Board of Directors that represents Hendricks County. Just as Sheltering Wings began as a collaborative effort, support continues to come from more than 50 churches, 35 civic organizations, 60 businesses, and more than 600 individual contributors. This year alone, more than 190 different individuals have volunteered more than 8,000 hours of their time for the shelter. In addition, more than $100,000 in kind services were provided. Full community support is necessary to ensure Sheltering Wings' long-term success.