Hannah, just 21 and facing an unexpected pregnancy, found herself scrolling online, searching for answers, and hoping for options. She clicked on an ad for free pregnancy testing and connected with a nurse at Vida Medical Clinic and Support Services in Appleton. That first visit was quiet, uncertain. But it planted a seed.
Nine months later, Hannah returned. She did not come for a test, but for a place to stay. She was now a mother, and she needed a home. What she found was Trinity House, a life-affirming transitional maternity home within Vida, created for women just like her: women who choose life even when the world tells them it’s too hard.
Today, thanks to a Monica Meyer Respect Life Grant from the Catholic Foundation, Trinity House is expanding its mission to serve more women like Hannah. The grant supports Vida’s commitment to providing comprehensive, Christ-centered care for pregnant women and new mothers facing homelessness or housing instability.
“This project is a powerful witness to the dignity of life,” said Josh Diedrich, Executive Director of the Catholic Foundation. “Trinity House doesn’t just offer shelter—it offers hope, healing, and a path forward rooted in love and faith. It is through the Monica Meyer Respect Life Endowment that this work continues to be made possible. The Catholic Foundation looks forward to continue partnering with Vida in how they share the love of Jesus with even more people.”
Sharing the love of Jesus through healthcare
At Trinity House, care goes far beyond a roof overhead. Residents receive:
- Personalized support plans through intake assessments.
- Life skills training in budgeting, cooking, and time management.
- Parenting education on childbirth, nutrition, and child development.
- Access to medical care through trusted healthcare partnerships.
- Community connections to education, employment, and local resources.
- House meetings that foster community and celebrate progress.
- Private living spaces and communal areas for growth and fellowship.
- Aftercare mentoring to support long-term success.
“We walk with each woman through her journey,” said Anne Tretinyak, Executive Director at Vida. “Our goal is to create a nurturing environment where women can thrive and where choosing life becomes a path to transformation. We are so grateful to the Catholic Foundation for awarding us this grant, so we can continue our mission.”
The relationships built at Trinity House are the heart of its mission. Staff and volunteers serve as living examples of Christ’s compassion, offering nonjudgmental support and authentic discipleship. It’s in these quiet, sacred moments over shared meals, late-night talks, and baby giggles that faith takes root.
“Trinity House gave me a home when I had nowhere to go,” said Hannah, reflecting on her journey. “It gave me a safe place to lay my head, so I could focus on me and my baby. Since being here, I have grown in my faith and trust in the Lord, which I am forever grateful for.”
The Monica Meyer Respect Life Grant honors the legacy of a woman who believed deeply in the sanctity of life. The Monica Meyer Respect Life Endowment was established to promote anti-abortion programs and ministries. Through this grant, her spirit lives on in every mother who finds shelter, every child who is born, and every life that is cherished.
A Mission That Transforms Live
For more than 25 years, the Catholic Foundation has supported Catholic parishes, schools, ministries, and organizations throughout northeastern Wisconsin. Through the Catholic Foundation, families leave a legacy of faith, helping others encounter Jesus and building a culture that cherishes life