The Christmas tree gracing Martha and Dave Albers' home has the Poplar Bluff couple reflecting not only on 31 years of family memories, but also reminiscing about the safe shelter provided by Haven House.
The tree has provided "a lot of good memories," said Martha Albers, who was among the founders of the local domestic violence shelter, which welcomed its first families in 1985. One of Haven House's first major fundraisers was The Festival of Tress, a Christmas tree auction in November 1987 with local businesses and organizations decorating 7-foot silk evergreens and selling them to the highest bidders, all to benefit the new shelter.
The Albers bid $200 to win the tree created by Doctors Regional Medical Center/Kneibert Clinic. Then Director of Marketing Robyn Hillis and her team Paige Robertson, Jamie Bloodworth and Lori Blaich decorated the tree Martha had her eye on.
When the Albers won the bid, they had no idea they would be celebrating with the timelessly elegant tree for decades.
"The lights lasted 25 years," Martha Albers said. "Dave replaced them and made a wooden base for the tree."
Hillis and her team used pearl tassels, crystal angels and icicles, miniature while silk poinsettias, white bows and clear lights on the tree.
The Albers added silver balls which are a traditional gift from a family member.
Hillis recalls, "DRMC always was dedicated to supporting community level activities. Haven House was so needed and the doctors were committed to supporting it."
According to Martha Albers, she became involved in organizing the shelter by accident. A friend, Eleanor Collier, asked her to help. When Collier's husband was transferred out of town, Martha Albers and others including attorneys Bill Gresham and Karen Miller and Three Rivers College Vice President Mary Phyfer continued their quest.
Martha Albers recalls looking at several places before they happened upon the present location. The group shimmied a window to get inside to check the property they later purchased.
The group was planning a larger scope program and envisioned assisting women who were homeless for any number of reasons before talking with a shelter director in Cape Girardeau, Mo., who strongly suggested picking one mission and doing it well. While domestic violence became their focus, Martha Albers believes Haven House's success motivated others in the community to do other things.
"The community always has been good to jump in and help," Albers said.
Mary Ann Allen joined the shelter staff as executive director in 1987. At the time, there were only 12 domestic violence programs in Missouri and three decades later, there are 120, according to Allen.
"Haven House was one of the very first rural programs in the state and we proved early on that other small communities could offer much needed services, too," added Allen.
While celebrating the more than 8,000 women and their children who have benefited from the emergency shelter services provided by Haven House, the director of 31 years said that the community's support has been essential to its success.
To the Albers, the tree, like the shelter, hasn't lost its elegance or purpose.
Each year, the Albers wrap the tree in plastic to store it. In recent years, when they bring it out, their family tells them "this is the last year," but not so for the tree that caught Martha's eye so many years ago. It reclaims its place, much like the many women who come to Haven House and leave restored and ready to reclaim their elegance and purpose in life, too.