ORU Grad Opens Much-Needed Home For Girls In Tulsa

Ashley Walker has started what's believed to be the first home for girls in Tulsa.

"I wake up every morning pretty happy and just like, 'Alright.' Never a dull moment," Walker said.

Her mission statement is summed up with: "Unlock Your Dreams." An inspirational picture carrying that phrase greets everyone as they come inside Tulsa area home.

"Every time I walk in through the door, it's a miracle and I'm excited. I love it. I told somebody the other day, 'No matter how hard things get, every time I walked into this it's, 'Wow, we're actually doing this,'" Walker said.

The Manna Girls' Home is a place for girls who have been abused, abandoned, have emotional issues, who have been taken away from their families and placed in foster care.

It opened three weeks ago, but has been Walker's dream since attending college at Oral Roberts University.

"There's a Tulsa Boys' Home and no Tulsa girls' home, so I realized there was a huge need for girls," Walker said.

The home is licensed by DHS and accepts girls 12-17 years old. Its focus is to get the girls out of a bad situation and help them get ready for when they age out of the DHS system.

"Everything from managing their finance to looking for a job," said Jessica Dyer.

The short-term goal is to open other homes like this across Tulsa. The long-term is goal is to open a campus-like facility with a special place for pregnant girls.

For now, Walker is busy making sure their day-to-day needs are met. She said it can be a challenge at times, but seeing the girls grow into women is what keeps her moving forward.

"A lot of the kids that I've worked with are amazing. They might come off as hard or upset, but they're really tender, and so it's cool to be able to work with them in that process," Walker said.

The home runs entirely on donations, including everything from money to dish-washing liquid.

Go here if you would like to make a donation.