A RESOLUTION recognizing Martha Regester.
Whereas, Martha Regester learned from her parents to help
those less fortunate;
Whereas, A single mother with four children, Martha
Regester worked two jobs to support her children;
Whereas, Although she lived on the edge of desperation,
she never felt despair because raising her children was a labor
of love;
Whereas, In the late 1940s, Martha Regester met the man
of her dreams - Francis Regester;
Whereas, In the 1950s Martha Regester started a nursery
school in her home and operated a business called Marty's
Babysitting that matched Indiana University students with
families who needed babysitters;
Whereas, During the 1960s, Martha Regester helped
establish Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF in Bloomington and
transported impoverished children to Head Start, a federally
funded program for preschoolers;
Whereas, In 2003, as a member of the Perry Township
Board of Trustees, Martha Regester refused to let an
emergency shelter be shut down;
Whereas, The shelter provided 28 beds for those in need of
a place to stay and counseling and case management designed
to help people achieve permanent self-sufficiency;
Whereas, In honor of Martha's dedication to the shelter, it
became known as Martha's House; and
Whereas, Martha Regester has dedicated her life to helping
others: Therefore,
HR 1533/DI 84