Mary Ryder Home — Celebrating 80 Years of Compassionate Care
by Tim Butler

    Eighty years ago in the dark, early days of the great depression, a woman named Mary Elizabeth Ryder became aware of the dire need that so many women in St. Louis were experiencing. They had been abandoned, became homeless and were without means. There were foreclosures, bankruptcies, high unemployment, bread lines, soup kitchens, poverty and hopelessness.  People in all parts of society were worried and afraid.
    Mary Elizabeth Ryder, without the benefit of deep pockets, without a strategic plan or multi-year funding plan and without staff, began what is now known as Mary Ryder Home to serve homeless women in need of shelter and support. She took the plunge – simply because the need was great and she could take action to help. It was a simple can-do attitude.
    This was a true leap of faith, an act of courage, a willingness to step into the abyss and do what few others were doing at that time — helping women who were in dire need of shelter, food and support.  Assistance was provided without regard for ability to pay, race or religious preference.
    Who was this mystery woman that started an organization with a little donated money and a desire to help? 
    Mary Elizabeth Ryder was a local woman ahead of her time.  She ran for political office; she was an officer of a local union; she was a typesetter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. She was a single mother. With all of that on her plate, she undertook this new effort to help support the many women who were homeless, often abandoned by their husbands who left town in search of work.
    Following her into this calling was Ryder’s daughter-in-law, Ethel Ryder, her granddaughter, Catherine A. Jones, and her great-granddaughters, Terry Jones-Signaigo and Marycarol Jones. It is a stunning tribute to her life’s work, and those of us who are fortunate to be involved with Mary Ryder Home do so in honor of this enduring legacy.
      The year 2010 marks 80 years of continuous operation and a legacy of caring that has embraced thousands of clients and encompasses the indispensable people who have staffed the Home as well as those who have donated so much to support the Home.
    Today, Mary Ryder Home is a residential care facility that serves women, with a focus on the elderly and disabled who have limited resources. The mission statement is simple: To serve our community’s most vulnerable, at-risk seniors’ need for a safe home, compassionate care and an enriched life. The Home operates out of one building in St. Louis’ Central West End, serving about 70 women with chronic medical and mental health issues — many who have limited or no family support. 
    In 2010, Mary Ryder Home celebrates not only Ryder’s decision to help others in need, but also the many people who have made it possible over the years to provide compassionate care to so many in need here in our own hometown. They celebrate the generous individual, union, corporate and foundation donors, as well as the volunteers who have spent time with residents — precious time that is measured with compassionate words, a caring touch, a smile shared and a story remembered and told again. These are the moments that mean so much to the residents of Mary Ryder Home.
    A special thanks must also go out to the United Way of Greater St. Louis. Since the mid 1950s, it has provided critical funding to keep the legacy of Mary Ryder Home moving forward to meet the needs of its residents — partners in this effort. 
    Become a part of this enduring legacy!  Please join Mary Ryder Home on Saturday, March 6, for its annual Dinner & Auction at the Sheraton Clayton Plaza Hotel. Carol Daniel from KMOX Radio and KMOV TV will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies. The event will honor another great St. Louis volunteer, Norma Stern, with the Heart of the Community Award.
    This event contributes significantly to the Home’s ability to continue this good work. Its staff looks forward to strong community attendance and support to help it march forward another 80 years! For information, please contact Sarah Dille at (314) 531-1413 ext. 235 or visit the website at www.maryryderhome.org.  n