Tara Armbruster at McKemie Place is an Alabama Bright Light
McKemie Place provides needed services to homeless women in the Mobile area. (contributed)
McKemie Place is the only emergency shelter for unaccompanied and homeless women in southwest Alabama.
You can measure the work the organization provides in dollars (valued at more than $4 million), but the ultimate value is in the “stories of hope, strength and self-resilience” that McKemie Place’s website celebrates.
Executive Director Tara Armbruster loves to share those stories.
“The mission of McKemie Place is to provide a safe haven, spiritual encouragement and access to resources that help meet the needs and promote the well-being of unaccompanied women in distress.” Armbruster said. “Basically, we are there for them, we help them become self-sufficient so they can return to a safe and productive life. Our case managers also connect them with employment opportunities; several of our ladies go to work every day.”
Tara Armbruster of McKemie Place is an Alabama Bright Light from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the needs have only increased.
“COVID-19 has affected us significantly,” Armbruster said. “Before the pandemic, we were an overnight operation. Now, we are 24/7. We have also changed the way we do things and have implemented new protocols. We check temperatures always, wear masks and we social distance. It also seems there are a lot more homeless women out there now, much more than before.”
To help deal with all the changes and to keep operations running smoothly, Armbruster depends on the support of many, including the Alabama Power Foundation.
“The Alabama Power Foundation has provided us with tremendous support. They have given us grants for several projects, and we are grateful for their partnership,” Armbruster said. “McKemie Place is grateful to have received two grants from the Alabama Power Foundation in 2020.”
The funding was crucial in allowing McKemie Place to provide emergency shelter for homeless women in the community, she said.
Among the services McKemie Place provides are health care including mental health, educational opportunities, housing assistance, life skills training, employment and job readiness. All of that may seem like a lot of work, but for Armbruster, the work is well worth the reward.
“I do this because it is something I was called to do. It can be emotionally tough and heavy work. We face a lot of difficult times and everyone goes through tough spots. But we are called to help those people in their time for need. It feels really terrific to see the results of what we do here at McKemie Place,” Armbruster said.
Stories of hope, strength and self-resilience make the difference.
For more information or to donate, visit www.mckemieplace.org.
Alabama Bright Lights captures the stories, through words, pictures and video, of some of our state’s brightest lights who are working to make Alabama an even better place to live, work and play. Award-winning journalist Karim Shamsi-Basha tells their inspiring stories. Email him comments, as well as suggestions on people to profile, at karimshamsibasha@gmail.com.
