A Heart for Hope: Kathy and Bruce Barlag’s Journey with House of Cherith
For more than 50 years, Kathy and Bruce Barlag have walked through life side by side. Together, they’ve raised a family, built businesses, and invested their time and resources in causes close to their hearts. But when they discovered House of Cherith, something shifted.
The Barlags first learned about HOC through a colleague who connected them with Matt McGee, Director of Development. After taking a tour, they were deeply moved by what they saw.
“Once you experience it and hear the stories, it pulls on your heart and you want to help,” Bruce shared.
For Kathy, who spent her career as a social worker, the visit was especially striking. “I’ve worked with agencies that are usually tired or rundown. But to walk into a facility built with love and dignity for the residents—it blew my mind. I was so impressed by how respectful and beautiful everything was.”
Bruce brings his business expertise to House of Cherith, lending strategy support, while Kathy invests her heart and hands in ways that touch the women and children directly. Both feel strongly that they have choices in where to give their time and resources, and they’ve chosen House of Cherith because of the mission and the impact.
The couple’s passion is deeply personal. “We’ve seen within our own family and friends the detrimental impact of abusive relationships,” Bruce explained. “That’s always been a soft spot for us. And the women at House of Cherith have endured these hardships in the worst possible way. It’s a problem that we need to address.”
For the Barlags, raising awareness is just as important as financial support. “Even if someone doesn’t become a donor, we believe the conversations are important,” Kathy said. “The mission for us is to make people aware of this blight on our society and how women and children are being treated. Awareness is the first step.”
That awareness has also translated into joy-filled action. Last Christmas, the Barlags partnered with House of Cherith to provide gifts for children. With their daughter’s help, they carefully chose presents from shopping lists provided by staff. The gifts were given in a way that allowed mothers to present them to their children.
“It felt like two gifts in one,” Kathy reflected. “The mothers had the joy of giving to their child, and the children still received something special on Christmas morning. That meant so much to us.”
Now in a season of life where they have both time and resources to give, Kathy and Bruce feel grateful to be part of House of Cherith’s mission. “When we first got married, we had time but no money. Later, we had money but no time. Now we can do both,” Bruce said. “It’s a blessing to support House of Cherith in this way.”
The Barlags’ story is a reminder that making a difference doesn’t require perfection—just a willing heart. As Kathy puts it, “We’re so pleased to find House of Cherith, a place that not only allows us to help, but welcomes it.”