By Rich Larson, KYMN News
For more than two decades, Ruth’s House of Hope has stood as one of Rice County’s most essential lifelines—a shelter providing safety, stability, and support for women and children in crisis. Founded 21 years ago, the Faribault-based organization offers private bedrooms, shared living spaces, and a compassionate environment where families can rebuild their lives after experiencing domestic violence, housing instability, or other crises.
Sue Stout, the Outreach Coordinator for Ruth’s House, said the facility can accommodate nine families at a time, usually around 28 people. Most stay six months to a year, but what’s important, she said, is from the moment someone arrives, the staff is working with them on their next step toward safety and independence.
Grace Lopez Jones, the organization’s newly hired Development Manager, began her role in October and has quickly immersed herself in the community. She said she was immediately taken by the way people in Rice County care about the role that Ruth’s House serves.
“I got to experience firsthand the people of Northfield, the people of Faribault, of the greater Rice County area, just come together. And as soon as I got to talk to them about what we were doing, they were just totally on board. So, it’s been really amazing just teaching people about what we do here. And I mean, the main mission is to serve as many women and children as we possibly can.”
That community support will be on full display on Friday at the Helping Hearts fundraiser, now in its 20th year. This year’s theme—“Giddy Up for Ruth’s House”—promises a lively Western-inspired evening at the 310 Event Center in downtown Faribault. The event is completely sold out, though a waitlist remains open.
The evening includes live music, raffles, themed “pick bags,” a professional live auction, and the beloved Cake Quest, a fast-paced dessert dash in which each table competes to claim one of the extravagantly decorated cakes donated by local bakers.
Auction items range from a Polaris side‑by‑side and a Nashville trip to a year of monthly floral arrangements and handcrafted children’s items.
While the gala is Ruth’s House’s largest fundraiser, support continues year‑round through donations, volunteer efforts, and community partnerships. Their sister program, Sarah’s House in Northfield, offers sober living for women transitioning from inpatient treatment—one of few such homes in Minnesota.
What keeps the work going, Stout and Lopez Jones agree, is the sense of connection Ruth’s House fosters. As Stout noted, even the children form a family of their own:
“It’s a caring community at Ruth’s House, and one of the examples I have is the children that are living at Ruth’s House. They play together, obviously. You get a bunch of kids in a house, and they’re going to play. And they refer to each other as cousins. And, you know, when you think about that, it’s just wonderful that they’re connecting to each other in that way.”
For more information or to donate, visit ruthshousemn.org.
Rich Larson is the owner and General Manager of KYMN Radio. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net.
