Community Partnership Transforms Maternity Home
Each mama and their precious baby were made in God’s image for such a time as this. We feel so privileged to come alongside them in this season. These words guide everything we do at Imago Dei Ministry Homes, and they became even more meaningful when Interstate Pest Management stepped forward with an incredible gift of service between December 2025 and January 2026.
A Vision Takes Shape
When Brad and Patti Thorstenson founded Imago Dei Ministry Homes in 2025, they answered a calling that had been placed on their hearts years earlier. The name itself—Imago Dei, meaning “made in the image of God”—reflects the dignity and worth we see in every expecting mother who walks through our doors. Our mission has always been clear: provide safe, stable housing and holistic support for single mothers during pregnancy and beyond, helping them build foundations for healthy, hopeful futures.
But turning that vision into reality required more than just faith and determination. It required a physical space that could serve as a true home—warm, safe, and welcoming. That’s where our partnership with Interstate Pest Management became transformational.
When Community Meets Need
Finding faith-based maternity housing in Cowlitz County can be challenging for expecting mothers without family support or financial resources. Many young women facing unexpected pregnancies struggle with housing insecurity at the exact moment they need stability most. Research consistently shows that safe housing during pregnancy leads to better outcomes for both mothers and babies, yet support systems often fall short right when they’re needed most.
Imago Dei Ministry Homes exists to fill that gap. We provide more than just a roof over heads—we offer mentorship, spiritual guidance, life skills training, and a supportive community. Our house parents, Jacob and Victoria Miller, live on-site and walk alongside our residents through the joys and challenges of pregnancy and early motherhood. Victoria’s recent experience becoming a mother herself brings authentic understanding to her mentorship, while Jacob’s background in education and young adult ministry equips him to guide residents through major life transitions.
But even the strongest support system needs a solid foundation, and that foundation is the physical space where healing, growth, and transformation occur.
200 Hours of Skilled Labor, Countless Hours of Impact
Between December 2025 and January 2026, Interstate Pest Management team members donated more than 200 hours of professional labor to completely renovate our maternity home in Longview, Washington. This wasn’t superficial work or cosmetic touch-ups. The Interstate Pest team tackled fundamental renovations that transformed the space from top to bottom.
The project began with demolition work, removing outdated materials and structures that no longer served the home’s purpose. Then came the skilled work of installing new drywall throughout the residence, creating clean, sound walls that would provide better insulation and a fresh foundation. Every room received fresh paint in warm, welcoming colors that help create an atmosphere of peace and possibility. Finally, the team handled critical electrical upgrades, ensuring the home meets modern safety standards and can accommodate the needs of mothers with newborns.
For a pest control company to possess and contribute these diverse construction skills speaks to the caliber of professionals Interstate Pest employs and their genuine commitment to community service. These weren’t token volunteer hours or unskilled labor—this was professional-quality work that required expertise, dedication, and genuine care for the outcome.
The Gift That Keeps Giving
Beyond the labor hours, Interstate Pest Management also donated a Speed Queen commercial-grade washer and dryer combination to the home. Anyone who has cared for a newborn understands that laundry becomes a constant reality. Multiply that by multiple residents, and reliable laundry equipment transitions from convenience to absolute necessity.
The Speed Queen brand is known for commercial durability and performance, the kind of equipment found in laundromats and high-use facilities. This wasn’t a residential model that might need replacing in a few years. This was professional equipment designed for heavy use and long-term reliability. That forward-thinking generosity means we can focus our limited resources on direct services to mothers rather than equipment maintenance and replacement for years to come.
Why This Partnership Matters
Interstate Pest Management’s contribution represents exactly the kind of community partnership that makes faith-based nonprofits like Imago Dei Ministry Homes sustainable. We are a 501(c)(3) organization operating entirely on donations and community support. We don’t charge rent to our residents—that would defeat the purpose of serving women facing financial hardship. Instead, we rely on individuals, businesses, and churches who share our vision of supporting vulnerable mothers.
What Interstate Pest provided—skilled labor and durable equipment—represents tens of thousands of dollars in value. More importantly, it represents the difference between a space that merely functions and a home that truly nurtures. The warm paint colors create a welcoming atmosphere. The updated electrical systems ensure safety and convenience. The reliable laundry equipment removes one daily stressor from already-challenging circumstances. The quality drywall provides better temperature control and a sense of permanence and stability.
"You matter. Your baby matters. You deserve a beautiful, safe place to prepare for motherhood."
For expecting mothers who have experienced housing instability, homelessness, or unsafe living situations, these details matter deeply. The physical environment communicates worth, dignity, and care. It says, “You matter. Your baby matters. You deserve a beautiful, safe place to prepare for motherhood.”
Meeting Mothers Where They Are
The women we serve at Imago Dei Ministry Homes come from varied backgrounds, but they share common needs: safety, stability, and support during pregnancy. Some have experienced family rejection after announcing their pregnancy. Others have left unsafe living situations or relationships. Many lack the financial resources to afford market-rate housing while also preparing for a baby’s arrival.
Our program provides comprehensive support addressing physical, emotional, spiritual, and practical needs. Residents receive:
- Safe, comfortable housing in a faith-based community environment
- Mentorship and guidance from house parents who invest personally in each resident’s success
- Life skills training covering everything from prenatal care to budgeting to parenting skills
- Spiritual support and biblical teaching for those who desire it
- Connection to community resources including healthcare, education, and employment services
- A supportive peer community of other expecting mothers navigating similar journeys
The renovated space Interstate Pest Management helped create directly enhances every aspect of this programming. Bible studies and life skills classes occur in rooms with fresh paint and updated lighting. Residents prepare meals in a kitchen with properly functioning appliances and electrical systems. House parents can focus on relationship-building and mentorship knowing the facility itself is safe and well-maintained.
The Longview Difference
Imago Dei Ministry Homes is rooted in Longview, Washington, serving expecting mothers throughout Cowlitz County and surrounding areas. This local focus matters because pregnancy and early motherhood require community connection. When mothers give birth at a local hospital and raise their children in these communities, they need support systems nearby.
Interstate Pest Management’s deep roots in the Pacific Northwest—they’ve served this region for over 60 years—meant they understood this dynamic instinctively. They’re not an out-of-town corporation writing a check for tax purposes. They’re neighbors who have watched this community evolve over six decades and who understand the value of supporting local organizations doing important work.
Their company tagline is “The Best Solution Is Just Down The Road,” and their partnership with us exemplifies that principle. The best solutions to community challenges often come from community members who show up, invest their time and resources, and make things better for their neighbors.
Looking Forward with Gratitude and Hope
As we move into 2026, Imago Dei Ministry Homes continues serving expecting mothers with the enhanced facility Interstate Pest Management helped create. Every woman who walks through our doors will benefit from their generosity. Every baby born to mothers we serve will enter a home that is safer, more comfortable, and more welcoming because of their contribution.
We recognize that this partnership represents something larger than a single renovation project. It represents a community that cares for its most vulnerable members. It represents business leaders who understand that true success includes lifting others up. It represents the kind of neighbor-helping-neighbor spirit that makes communities strong and resilient.
Brad and Patti Thorstenson, our founders, often speak about their desire to see broken bloodlines replaced with new legacies of hope and healing. That transformation happens one mother, one baby, one supportive relationship at a time. It also happens when communities rally around organizations doing this work, providing the resources that make comprehensive support possible.
How You Can Support This Mission
While Interstate Pest Management’s contribution was extraordinary, the ongoing needs of Imago Dei Ministry Homes continue. Supporting expecting mothers in pregnancy housing in Cowlitz County requires sustained community investment. Here’s how you can help make a difference:
Financial Support: We accept one-time and recurring donations through our website at imagodeiministryhomes.com/donate. All donations to our 501(c)(3) organization are tax-deductible. Monthly recurring donations provide the predictable income that allows us to plan confidently and serve consistently.
Needed Items: Our ongoing needs include gift cards to Target, Walmart, Amazon, and Fred Meyer for purchasing necessities; transportation support through reliable vehicles, bus passes, or gas cards; household supplies including cleaning products, paper products, garbage bags, sheets, and towels; and new infant and newborn clothing up to 24 months.
Spread the Word: Many expecting mothers in need of maternity housing in Longview, WA and throughout Cowlitz County don’t know we exist. Share our website and information with your church, social networks, and community groups. Healthcare providers, counselors, and social workers who work with pregnant women need to know about our services.
Prayer Support: As a faith-based organization, we deeply value prayer. Pray for the mothers we serve, for wisdom for our staff and house parents, and for provision of resources to sustain this ministry.
Contact Us: To learn more about volunteer opportunities, to discuss ways to support our mission, or to apply for residency, contact us at info@imagodeiministryhomes.com or call (360) 261-2452.
Gratitude in Action
To the entire team at Interstate Pest Management: Thank you. Thank you for seeing a need and responding so generously. Thank you for investing your time, your skills, and your resources into creating a home where vulnerable mothers can find safety and hope. Thank you for understanding that affordable maternity housing matters, that faith-based pregnancy support makes a difference, and that expecting mothers in Longview and throughout Cowlitz County deserve communities that care about their wellbeing.
Your company’s commitment to community involvement and your genuine care for your neighbors shine through this partnership. You have built more than walls and installed more than appliances—you have built hope, created opportunity, and demonstrated what it means to love your neighbor in practical, powerful ways.
The mothers we serve may never know your names, but they will benefit daily from your generosity. Their babies will sleep in rooms you painted, wear clothes washed in equipment you provided, and grow up in a home you helped create. That legacy extends beyond any single business quarter or marketing campaign. That’s the kind of impact that transforms lives and communities for generations.
As we continue this mission of providing pregnancy housing and support for expecting mothers throughout Cowlitz County, we’re grateful for partners like Interstate Pest Management who understand that the strongest communities are built by neighbors helping neighbors, businesses supporting nonprofits, and people of goodwill working together toward shared goals of hope, healing, and human dignity.
“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord.” – Proverbs 19:17
Imago Dei Ministry Homes provides faith-based maternity housing and support for expecting mothers in Longview, Washington and throughout Cowlitz County. Our mission is to offer safe housing, mentorship, and comprehensive support during pregnancy and beyond. Learn more at imagodeiministryhomes.com or apply for residency today.