Kellie Markie, founder and Executive Director of Dorothy's House visited Rotary on November 1st.
After a successful marketing career, Kellie returned to her hometown of Des Moines where she began flipping houses and volunteering with Y.E.S.S., helping local teen girls. While volunteering, Kellie’s eyes were opened to the severity of abuse that many children in our community unfortunately suffer. While volunteering at a shelter, Kellie encountered a 16-year-old girl, named Dorothy. Despite the bleak circumstances in the shelter, which included cement walls and floors, with the beds chained down and no shortage of drama amongst the girls there, Dorothy maintained a positive outlook, and this inspired Kellie. She wanted to give teens like Dorothy the opportunity to feel the warmth that only a home could provide. Kellie decided to became a foster parent.
The first girl that Kellie fostered had been trafficked. This experience further educated Kellie about the harsh reality that trafficking victims face and what types of things, even here in our own community, make the trafficking possible. The knowledge gained from this insight has allowed Kellie to help the FBI in their efforts, and they have collaboratively prevented three trafficking victims from being moved out of state. Statistics show that if a victim is not removed from these abusive circumstances within seven years, their most likely outcome is death by either suicide or drug overdose.
Kellie is motivated to help victims get out of these circumstances. The house now known as Dorothy’s House was discovered and purchased by Kellie when she was flipping homes. Next door to it was an empty lot and an abandoned house. Kellie purchased each of these and added to Dorothy’s House. Dorothy’s House opened seven years ago. They provide a “safe place for the practice of life for those whose lives have been interrupted by human trafficking, exploitation and prostitution.” They know each person’s experiences have been different and they are flexible to adapt to each resident’s needs. Providing long-term housing for the Dorothy Alums is the ultimate goal. Dorothy's House is 100% privately funded by local charitable organizations and people. They have seven employees--four full time and 2 part time.
More information can be found at https://dorothyshouse.org/.
