The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home celebrated the completion of its newest HomePlace Cottage for homeless children and their mothers with a ribbon cutting May 21 at its campus in Monroe. Among those celebrating the ribbon cutting were (left to right) Perry Hancock, Gene Howard, Irma Howard, Maggie Martin and Jonathan Martin. Gene Howard is the cousin of Jonathan Martin, chairman of the Louisiana-based RoyOMartin Lumber Company. The Howards have given generously toward this project, along with proceeds from the Brenda Hall Abney Children’s Golf Classic hosted annually by Roy O. Martin. Irma’s Place, named after Irma Howard, will house homeless women and children for up to 12 months at no cost to the residents. While there, the women may work toward their high school equivalency and receive life and employment skills training through the Christian Women Job Corps, a ministry of the Children’s Home. Residents living in this cottage will experience an array of amenities to offer a true home environment for the women and their children in this transitional setting as they prepare for independent living. This is the second new HomePlace Cottage to open since 2016.
