Gilead House, Inc.

09/04/2025

👉 Meet the new executive director of the Gilead House, Bakir Coulter.
Bakir has over 15 years of experience in leadership and mentorship, as well as active military involvement. Her faith drives her, and she has a strong commitment to expanding access to compassionate care for the women who are clients at Gilead House. Her vision closely aligns with our mission to provide comprehensive addiction treatment in a residential setting while fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone can achieve lasting recovery, as well as a productive, lawful, and healthy life.
We would also like to express our gratitude to Shari Spicer, whose dedication and leadership have significantly strengthened our organization and prepared us for this exciting new phase. Shari stepped into her mother’s role and has done an exceptional job guiding us.
As we move forward under Bakir’s leadership, we remain committed to ensuring that everyone who comes through our doors receives the highest quality of care and support. We are confident that her guidance will inspire continued growth and innovation while honoring the values that have always defined Gilead House.
Please join us in welcoming Bakir Coulter to the Gilead House family. We look forward to working together to build a healthier and stronger community.

06/21/2025

Thank you for such an amazing opportunity to learn! Executive Director Shari Spicer gained valuable insights!!

04/16/2025

💚💚 Special thanks to Girl Scout Troop 2139, who stopped by yesterday to donate Girl Scout Cookies. 💚💚

First Farmers Bank & Trust sponsored them.

04/15/2025

I’ve been a manager for almost six years. I always thought I was fair. Maybe a bit strict, but fair. Rules are rules, right? If I start making exceptions, where does it end?

That’s what I told myself when I fired Celia last week.
It was her third tardy this month.
Policy says three strikes—you’re out.
She didn’t argue. Just nodded, picked up her bag, and left.

But something about that silence should have told me something was off.

Later that afternoon, I overheard two coworkers whispering.

“Did you hear about Celia’s son?”
“Yeah… she’s been sleeping in her car with him.”

My stomach dropped.

I pulled one aside. “What do you mean, ‘sleeping in her car’?”

And then the whole picture unfolded.

Celia had been evicted a month ago.
No support from her ex.
No nearby family.
She was working double shifts, doing everything she could…
But shelters were full.
So she and her six-year-old son had been living in their car.

Those late mornings?
They weren’t because she was lazy or careless.
She was driving across town to a church that let them shower, so her son could go to school clean.

And I had fired her.
I had just made it worse.

That night, I couldn’t sleep. The guilt sat heavy on my chest.

The next morning, I called her. No answer.
I texted. Nothing.
I drove to the last address on file—evicted.
I sat in my car, staring at my phone, wondering if I’d lost my chance to make things right.

But I couldn’t just leave it there.

I started calling around—shelters, food banks, churches—anywhere she might’ve gone. Most couldn’t help, but then one woman at a church downtown paused.

“She was here two nights ago. Picked up some food and blankets. That’s all I know.”

It wasn’t much, but it was something.

I drove downtown.
I walked the streets.
Checked every parking lot.
And just as I was about to give up, I saw it—

An old sedan, parked near a grocery store.
Fogged windows.
A small face peeking out from under a blanket in the back seat.

It was her son.

My heart clenched. I walked up slowly, gently knocked on the glass. Celia sat up in the front seat, startled… and then, her eyes met mine.

“I came to bring you your job back,” I said.
“But more than that—I came because I should have listened… and I want to help.”

Because sometimes, being a manager isn’t just about policies.
It’s about people.
And Celia didn’t need discipline—
She needed compassion.

Credit: Original Owner (Respect 🫡)

04/14/2025

The dinner on Friday was extremely successful, thanks to our incredible sponsors and generous donors. We raised over $77,000!
LIVE AUCTION | Joe Martino and his crew from Martino Realty & Auctioneers
APPETIZER SPONSOR | Community First Bank of Indiana
COCKTAIL HOUR SPONSORS | Hobson Insurance Agency and Monroe Custom Homes, Inc.
DINNER SPONSORS | Bruno's Pizza Kokomo and Comfort Keepers of Kokomo, IN
WINE SPONSORS | O'Donnell Legal and Bolinger Law Firm
CENTERPIECE SPONSOR | First Farmers Bank & Trust
DESSERT SPONSOR | Blye's Bridal Loft
ENTERAINMENT SPONSORS | Eads Roofing & Exteriors and City of Kokomo - City Hall
MUSICAL GUESTS | The Time Travelers
In addition to all the great companies that donated items for our LIVE AUCTION!!! Missy's Personal Training, City of Firsts Community FCU, Pilato, STRANDS SALON KOKOMO, Solutions Salon and Spa, Cone Palace, Gold Fever Jewelry, Hoosier Steaks and Bruno's Pizza Kokomo

04/12/2025

What an amazing evening. If you missed “The Dinner”, you missed the best evening of food, entertainment and fundraising. So grateful!

02/25/2025

💙🩵 JOIN OUR TEAM 🩵💙 We are hiring a part-time Residential Support Staff. Find all the details here https://gileadhousekokomo.org/contact-us/career-opportunities/

01/23/2025

Check out our executive director, Spicer, on the cover of the Tribune. Great story about the legacy she is living out.

For 24 years, Reba Harris was the fearless leader of the Gilead House, a 27-bed women’s shelter which offers support services, classes and addiction recovery treatment for those recently released

01/15/2025

💙🩵 Words can not sufficiently express our gratitude to Bridgeway Church Kokomo for their partnership & support. 🩵💙 Thank you for your donation and desire to help us continue to help REAL PEOPLE make REAL CHANGES in their lives and ultimately get REAL RESULTS! Change is hard, and we are all in this together to make an impact on the people we serve !!!

01/14/2025

Thank you, Sunspot Natural Market - Kokomo, for your generous donation of products for our clients! We appreciate your support of our mission to help real people make real changes to get real results!

12/23/2024

Gilead House needs to transplant some indoor plants. We need pots (various sizes). We also need some dirt and plant food sticks. Drop off at 406 E. Sycamore.