50 years of fostering freedom from addiction; Banquet Aug. 21

On a corner lot in the Highland neighborhood of Shreveport, a beautiful historic home houses a critically important program for the Shreveport-Bossier area: Oakwood Home for Women, a place of security for women to rebuild their lives from alcoholism and addiction.

In August 2024, Oakwood will celebrate its 50th anniversary as a lifeline for so many women with a fundraising banquet. Jessica Ritchie, executive director of Oakwood for the past three years, is honored to carry on the tradition of care that Oakwood is known for. “We have the most successful program in this area,” Ritchie says. “Oakwood has helped over 2,000 women remain sober in the past 50 years.”

The home was built in 1914 and was a residence for a few different owners before being left vacant in the late 1960s. According to Ritchie, the beautiful structure stood empty until late 1974. Sister Mary Germaine was sympathetic to the very present need in Shreveport for a safe place for women who were recovering from the disease of alcoholism. Men were fortunate in this respect, as the Stoner Avenue Bridge House had been in operation since 1961, but women had nowhere to go. Sister Germaine made her request known.

She spoke with the Rev. James M. Poole, the pastor of St. Luke’s Methodist Church. This was an answer to his congregation’s prayers, as they had been looking for a way to serve their community. With the help of Virgil C. Hilburn, the home was purchased for $18,000. Another $7,000 worth of materials and labor were donated, and Oakwood Home for Women Inc. was born.

Oakwood Home for Women will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Aug. 21.

The home can welcome eight residents at a time. “Most of the women come to us after a 28-day inpatient treatment program,” Ritchie says. “They must be able to pass a drug test and have a working knowledge of the 12 steps. After a brief interview process in which they must show a sincere desire to change their way of life, they are admitted and welcomed to start their new journey. We like to have a six-to-12-month commitment, but they can stay as long as 18 months.”

Day-to-day life at the home includes the basic roles of running a household and attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings, which have been cornerstones of the program since its inception. “Most 12-step meetings are held at area clubhouses designed for AA attendance and also at local churches. Individuals interested in the program can reach out to the AA central office for names and meeting times,” Ritchie adds. “The women take turns cooking four nights a week. They all eat as a community and family unit. Our food is purchased through private donations and the money we raise during our banquet.

“This banquet is designed to fund our operating budget for the fiscal year,” Ritchie says. “We typically operate at under $100,000 annually. This includes room and board for those unable to pay, food, utilities for the home, all toiletries, personal hygiene, bedding, medications and any other need a resident may have when they enter the home. This annual banquet is the only fundraiser of its kind for the organization.”

Oakwood Home for Women has a long commitment to helping women turn their lives around. Ritchie says Oakwood’s alumni often do what they can to give back. “A majority of the women who complete our program love to come back and show the current residents that it can be done, and they do this by leading by example.”

Oakwood residents must show a sincere desire to change their way of life.

Bridget Vasko chairs this year’s banquet, which will feature an alumnus as a speaker as well as a family member of an alumnus and a current resident. Jennifer and Andrew Ameen will host this year’s annual dinner. Support and donations are critically important, as Oakwood receives no money from state, federal or local governments.

“There is something special about this old house that can only be explained by those whose lives have been forever changed by it,” Ritchie adds. “This banquet is a chance to see firsthand how lives have been restored over the past 50 years. I would like to personally invite anyone interested in our program or in helping support our mission to attend on Aug. 21, 2024.”

Gardening is one of the many day-to-day roles of running the Oakwood household.

Oakwood Home for Women in Shreveport will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a Golden Jubilee Banquet on Aug. 21 at Broadmoor United Methodist Church, 3715 Youree Drive, Shreveport. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with dinner at 6 p.m. The dress is formal, and black tie is optional. Tickets are $40 each, and table sponsorships can be purchased at https://auctria.events/Oakwood2024. Donations are always welcome. You can find more information about Oakwood and its programs at oakwoodhome.org or (318) 221-9451.