A Single Mom’s Journey Becomes a Community Lifeline
When Jessica Bretl found herself raising kids alone twelve years ago, she didn’t just survive the experience. She transformed it into something bigger.
Today, Bretl runs The Hagar House in Wausau, a shelter that’s been opening doors for single mothers since 2021. And now, they’re asking the community to help write the next chapter.
“I’ve walked in their shoes,” Bretl said. “I am still walking in their shoes. I know the struggle and how hard it can be to be the sole person responsible for raising your children.”
More Than Just a Roof Overhead
The Hagar House isn’t your typical emergency shelter. Families stay anywhere from six to eighteen months, working toward real stability.
During that time, residents get help with everything from financial literacy classes to job training. The goal? Breaking cycles that can trap families for generations.
“I’ve seen so many of our moms that have come through our doors, either finish a GED or get out of debt, continue their education and finish certifications so they can be higher wage earners,” Bretl said. “And several of our moms have been able to purchase a Habitat for Humanity home.”
That’s the kind of outcome that changes trajectories. Not just temporary relief, but genuine transformation.
Honoring Moms to Help Other Moms
The shelter’s newest initiative turns Mother’s Day into something more than brunch and flowers. They’re building a legacy wall where families can honor their own mothers while supporting single moms working toward independence.
“To have these moms honored and put on our legacy wall is two-fold. It really is giving inspiration to the mothers that we serve here. It’s honoring the mothers who raised us and have given their lives to us and poured into us.”
Kirk Howard jumped at the chance. He worked with his siblings to honor their late mother through a donation to the building campaign.
“I think as you get older, you realize how much impact moms have on our lives,” Howard said. “So in the past few years, we all decided we’ve got to find a way to recognize my mom, who was a very helpful and kind person and this opportunity came along.”
Two Buildings, One Million Reasons Why
The legacy wall will hang in the community room of one of two new buildings currently under construction. The first building is ready to open any day now. The second awaits the shelter reaching its $1 million fundraising goal.
Here’s what that expansion means for Central Wisconsin families:
- More residential spaces for mothers and children escaping crisis situations
- Extended programming capacity for financial education and life skills training
- Additional mentorship opportunities connecting established community members with mothers rebuilding their lives
- Expanded childcare and family support services
At $38 per person per day to operate, the math adds up quickly. But so does the impact.
Why the Northwoods Needs This
Marathon County faces the same challenges as much of rural Wisconsin. Affordable housing remains scarce. Single-parent households navigate limited support networks. Economic instability hits vulnerable families hardest.
The Hagar House fills a gap that emergency assistance alone can’t close. Women arrive in crisis. They leave with plans, skills, and stability.
That’s not just good for individual families. It strengthens the entire community fabric across Central Wisconsin.
The Christ-centered approach shapes how the organization operates, but volunteers and supporters come from all backgrounds. What unites them? Believing single mothers deserve more than just getting by.
How to Get Involved Before Mother’s Day
Families can pool donations together to honor a mother on the legacy wall. Groups of siblings, extended family, even friend circles can contribute collectively.
Every dollar goes toward finishing the two-building expansion. That means more families housed, more women trained, more kids growing up with stability they might not have otherwise known.
Donations can be made online or by calling The Hagar House at 715-298-9994. Time’s ticking if you want your family’s tribute on that wall before the first building opens.
In a region that values neighborly support and pulling together when times get tough, The Hagar House represents the Northwoods spirit at its finest. One woman’s experience becoming a community resource. One donation at a time building something that’ll last.
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