About Us
Sharing God's love with families by providing a safe and caring place for kids to stay.
Ivy House Board of Directors
Amber Collins
Founder
God gave me the vision for the Ivy House in 2012. I was volunteering at the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery and saw what a huge blessing their services were to the community. I also had been involved in various Church ministries serving families and youth. God's vision for our Ivy House CN was combining the gift of sharing Jesus' love and support AND providing a safe, loving, fun, amazing place for kids to stay when their caregiver had a challenging situation to work through. A place everyone can trust. A place filled with peace and joy! Ten years later God has walked with us as we worked to make the vision a reality and we have been blessed to walk with many families in Southern MN at their times of need. Founding a non-profit has been filled with great challenges and deep joy, just like the journey of life as a Christian. Praise God, I have learned when we keep Jesus close to our hearts, all things are possible! "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
Steve Turvold
Board Chair
Being the Board Chair for Ivy House is a privilege, not only to serve but to walk with some of the most loving, generous, and smart people I know. “They Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love” is a favorite hymn of mine. This hymn reminds me of Ivy House’s mission of showing God’s love to families by providing a safe and caring place for kids to stay. I am amazed and thankful for the work we are all providing for families who walk through our doors.
Anna Friese
Board Vice Chair
I’ve been blessed to know the founder, Amber Collins, and watch the Ivy house grow and become what it is today. There is nothing quite like our Ivy House. I love watching it take shape and impacting all who come across our mission and founding!
Sean Fingland
Board Treasurer
I joined the Ivy House Board to support an amazing organization that provides much needed assistance to children in a time of family crisis.
Katie Schwartz
Board Secretary
When I think about why I want to serve as a board member of the Ivy House, this quote comes to mind:
“For these are all our children. We will all profit from, or pay for, what they become.” James Baldwin.
Andreas Braulick
Board Member
Chris Dalton
Board Member
I chose to serve on the board because childcare is an issue in our community. I enjoy helping those in need when I can and the services provided by Ivy House are exactly that, helping those in a crisis get the care they need. This is something that I have a passion for and want to help maintain and grow.
Kim Hanson
Board Member
I was drawn to the Ivy House at the very beginning because I believed in helping families and children in our community!
Emily Hoffrogge
Board Member
To me, Ivy House means comfort and hope. As a single parent, I’ve felt the lonely, pit-in-the-stomach worry that keeps you awake at night wondering how you are going to keep your kids safe, happy, and well-cared-for through a challenging day ahead. That’s the comfort; realizing you’re not alone and that there are loving people who want to help. That’s Ivy House! And it’s the people and places like Ivy House that bring hope; that heartwarming feeling of knowing you and your kids will make it through a tough day, that we all need each other and it’s good to reach out for help, and that there are brighter days ahead. I feel blessed to be a part of the Ivy House mission and hope you feel blessed by Ivy House too.
Sarah Mertz
Board Member
Katie Slette
Board Member
As a Christian, I am convicted by the mission of Ivy House to share God’s love with families by providing a safe and caring place for kids to stay. As a new(er) member of the New Ulm community, I am interested in serving my neighbors in meaningful ways and establishing connections with friends I’ve yet to meet.
Sue Klossner
Board Member
I have felt very blessed to be part of the Ivy House and its mission since near the beginning. I have always had a special place in my heart for the most vulnerable individuals in our communities. Being part of this board has allowed me to continue my work with some of these vulnerable members of our community, children who need quick, reactive caregiving. It is very satisfying to know we are meeting the needs of many families by providing our services.
Ivy House Staff
Trisha Homan
Executive Director
God led me to lead Ivy House to serve our community. I’m honored to work beside many talented people on our Board of Directors and staff. Working for Ivy House has been such a gratifying experience to truly make a difference in the lives of families and children. I was born with a helper’s heart and am humbled to be able use the talents God has given me to love, comfort and support everyone who comes to Ivy House.
Jessica Lehman
Family Advocate
Curiosity brought me to Ivy House. I stay because I found a love and passion for the children and families we serve. Ivy House takes a community and transforms it into a family.
Aubrey Fischer
Childcare Provider
Ivy House is a safe, caring and home-like place for children to stay and play. It is a place full of love and boundaries.
I am grateful to be part of such a caring, supportive, and generous team who share a similar goal to provide support and resources to families and children.
I chose to work at Ivy House because of the love and support they have shown me from being an intern through the pandemic, graduating from college to planning a wedding. Ivy House has been flexible, caring and like a family
Molly Schalinske
Childcare Provider/Crisis Line
What is better than knowing your children are in a safe and loving place? That is what the Ivy House is. We want all children to know that no matter what is happening in their lives, when they are with us, they are loved. Being a part of Ivy House has been such a blessing in my life. Seeing the impact, we have on the community is just so heartwarming and humbling. The Ivy House is a great organization that provides so much care and love.
Amber Black
Childcare Provider
Ivy House represents hope to me. I chose to work at the Ivy House because it’s a way for me to give back by showing the kids we are here for them, a safe & fun place, and hope to their parents by giving them a small break to take a breath and move forward.
Linda Reinarts
Childcare Provider
I enjoy working with the kids at the Ivy House. It’s not work, it’s just playtime! I love how much energy the kids have, keeps me young.
Erin Connell
Childcare Provider
Caring for people, children especially, has always held a special place in my heart. Working at Ivy House gives me the opportunity to be someone special and safe in these children. Feeling loved and cared about are, in my opinion, two of the most important things for children. I have plenty of to be shared, so that’s why I chose to work at Ivy House.
Erin Miller
Childcare Provider
Ann Winch
Childcare Provider
Ivy House is a wonderful ministry to families in need of support. I am blessed to be a part of a team that shares the love of Christ in caregiving to the children who come.
Jill Spence
Childcare Provider
I did childcare for 18 years and then decided to go back to work in sales what I went to school for. I was missing being around children. I was told about the Ivy House and thought that would be the perfect fit. After learning more and more about the mission and seeing what we do for so many in need it has filled my heart with so much joy.
As a psychologist I have the privilege of working with wonderful families. Many of these families could use more support and I like being a part of that solution. Being able to tell a struggling client there is a resource like Ivy House is so pleasing. In the last several years of my practice I've seen how even a few hours for a "time out" or break can really turn the tide for someone and instill hope. Also, as the mother of a 15 month old daughter, whom I adore, I've experienced first hand how challenging it can be to take care of a tiny human. We all need help sometimes. It takes a village.
Katie Kuhlmann Schwartz
Board Member