Why we are named “Donna’s House of Peterborough”

 

 

Donna and Bob Lowes of Peterborough

 

 Donna and her husband Bob are well known in the church community for their service at an outreach ministry in downtown Peterborough. They were dedicated to helping the homeless, the people in need and were motivated to create a safe haven for pregnant and parenting young women.

 

 Donna was a very special lady who was welcoming and loved everyone she met, but especially those in need.  Donna also worked at a local daycare for 28 years.  She was loved by all the staff, parents and children.   Donna always had treats in her office for the kids – gummy worms were a popular one!  Everyone loved Donna for her amazing heart, smile and laugh.

 

Donna got to know every family and child at the daycare.  She learned about their lives and was committed to praying for each of them.  She remembered everyone’s name, even those “alumni” kids who would return, years after they graduated, to say “Hi”, or to start bringing their own children to the daycare.  She would surprise them by calling them by name, and of course they remembered Donna.  She treated each one like they were her own child, spoke of each one as if they were her own child, and who would ever forget the name of their own child?

 

Donna was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in January 2017 and passed away August 2019. A team of individuals with a vision of opening a home to help pregnant youth and young parenting women in our community got together and it was decided to name the home in memory of Donna Lowes. It was felt that this would honour the ministry Donna had started.  She is missed everyday by her family and friends, but will be remembered always through Donna’s House of Peterborough. Pastor Bob Lowes continues to be an ongoing support for this mission.

 

 With the support of a team of individuals from the community the process has begun to establish a charitable organization known as Donna’s House of Peterborough.  The organization was designed to provide practical support for these young women with the hope of breaking the cycle of abuse for the developing generation.  With financial support of service groups and churches from the communities surrounding Peterborough, the Donna’s House of Peterborough Board of Directors will open a residential program for pregnant mothers.  The Donna’s House of Peterborough Board of Directors is committed to continue to develop programs to meet the evolving needs of the community.