OUR HISTORY

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Selah Place of Oregon County was organized in 2009.  Sherry Fohey, the organization's founder, spent several years working with survivors of domestic & sexual violence. She was a local outreach director and passionate advocate for these survivors.  

Jan Beazley, a co-founder of Selah Place, soon joined Sherry in this much needed work. 

Sherry and Jan realized there was  great need for a shelter for women and children who are survivors of domestic or sexual violence in the area. 

Believing God had put them together and given them a heart for survivors, these two passionate ladies began meeting in a kitchen, brainstorming about how to achieve the goal of a shelter in Oregon County, along with coordinating other supportive & educational resources. They began searching for local leaders with willing hearts who were also led to develop needed resources. Soon a local board of directors developed, a name chosen, & Selah Place of Oregon County, Inc. was born!

The name Selah came from scripture, found in several Psalms, a musical term indicating a pause. Selah Place is intended to provide survivors with a safe place and the time to pause, breathe, consider options & provide survivors the resources to help them succeed. Selah Place has always recognized that the survivors are the only ones qualified to make choices about their own lives.  

Selah Place now boasts a full board of directors, who have developed articles of incorporation & established Selah Place as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Selah Place is also a member of Missouri Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence (MOCADSV). Selah Place board members and volunteers have received training through MOCADSV and are actively establishing community partnerships to serve local survivors. 

From the beginning, Selah Place has been dependent on it's superb volunteers. Each one, whether long or short term, whether providing time, energy, talent, finances, or a combination of those assets, has helped Selah Place continue to fulfill our mission statement.   

In 2019, Selah Place purchased the Ingle Hotel building in Thayer, MO. The building was completely renovated;  the hotel provides a shelter for women and children.  

Selah Place has encountered many challenges since its founding. But through it all, with much prayer, God has provided funding, community partners and volunteers with hearts for service, along with opportunities in His timing.