Each month, Milford Advocacy for the Homeless holds a virtual round table discussion. Held on the first Friday, the meting includes a speaker series entitled “Together We Serve.” The meeting on December 7, which begins at 8 AM will feature Mike Agnew, president of Camp Tharros and the Site Director of Code Purple.
“We’re excited to keep building bridges between service providers, local residents and advocates through this series,” Martha Gery, founder of MAH, said. “The program allows us to elevate the work of so many local heroes while also informing and inspiring the public to take part in a meaningful community action.
Agnew, who has over three decades in finance and executive leadership, leads Tharros Village, a non-profit, self-governed village for the unsheltered in Lewes. Agnew served as a theology teacher at Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania from 2019 to 2021. He retired as the Vice-President of Finance and Controller for North America at Siemens Healthineers, serving in that capacity from 2013 to 2019.
The mission of Tharros Village is to provide an organized, supportive and self-governed space for those experiencing homelessness. They promote dignity, stability and community by offering seasonal shelter and direct pathways to housing, employment and wellness services. The village is located at 18006 Coastal Highway in Lewes.
The village is named for an ancient city on the western coast of Sardinia, Italy. Founded by Phoenicians in the 8th century BCE, it later became a flourishing Roman settlement. Now in ruins, it was once known for resilience, trade and strategic coastal location and the founders felt that was a fitting name for a place of renewal. The word tharros translates to “courage,” “bravery,” or “grit.” Tharros Village celebrated the personal courage it takes for residents to overcome adversity.
Leadership at Tharros Village state that they are not a shelter but a transitional, self-governed village that is structured, clean and well-managed. It is also not permanent housing, but a steppingstone to housing and independence.
In addition to Agnew, MAH hopes to have a representative from Banyan Treatment Center as well.
The meetings are free and open to the public. The link to the virtual meeting can be found by clicking here, visiting the MAH website or on Facebook. Those interested can also contact Ruth Behrens via email or by calling 302-228-8541.
