For 20 years, The Drake House has been a place where the community comes together to help families build lasting stability, and much of that foundation traces back to one person.

As our first Director of Programs, Christy Merritt built programming that continues to shape The Drake House today. She created our weekly Monday night Life Skills classes, still a cornerstone of our program, and launched Neighbor to Neighbor, where organizations and companies sponsor and furnish each apartment while serving as advocates for the families who live there. As Christy shared, it was truly an "'all hands-on deck' gift of love by the community, to the community of families in need." Christy's impact on thousands of lives over the years is immeasurable, and every family who has walked through our doors has felt it, whether they know her name or not. Thank you, Christy, for helping build the village that empowers families experiencing housing instability to find stability and hope. 💜 #TheDrakeHouse20