“The porch light went on June 7, 1976, and never went off.” Our founder, Annette Rafferty, has said those words for nearly 50 years. In this anniversary year, Holy Cross Magazine has told the story behind them in a beautiful new feature.
The story begins in the mid-1970s. People doubted that women could plan, fund, and run a shelter for women and children without a powerful backer. Annette and a small circle of determined women proved them wrong. Among them were some of the first women to attend the College of the Holy Cross. Students not yet out of their teens walked down the hill to staff overnight shifts at our first home on Crown Street. They opened the door to women who had nowhere else to go, often with no training and no idea who might be on the other side.
One of those students was Paula Sasso ’78. She almost said no when she was first asked to attend a planning meeting. She went anyway, and she has never stopped showing up. Today she serves as chair of our Board of Directors.
The article is full of moments that capture who we have always been:
- The round, black-and-white jigsaw puzzle that guests and volunteers built and rebuilt together. Working on it side by side erased the differences between them.
- Some of the lowest-paid women on staff at Holy Cross gave a little from every paycheck to help get Abby’s House off the ground.
- Executive Director Julie Orozco explains why a full-time job is no longer enough to guarantee a safe, stable home in Worcester, and why our work matters more than ever.
This isn’t the story of one person. It’s the story of what happens when women move heaven and earth, together. That has been true for 50 years.
Read the full story in Holy Cross Magazine
Written by Marybeth Reilly-McGreen ’89 | Photos by Caroline Axvig
Our deepest thanks to Holy Cross Magazine for honoring our history. We also thank the generations of Holy Cross students, faculty, and staff who have kept our porch light burning.
Help keep the light on for the next 50 years.
About Abby’s House
Abby’s House is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing shelter, affordable housing, and advocacy services to women and children experiencing homelessness and housing instability. For 50 years, Abby’s House has remained committed to creating safe, supportive environments where women receive resources they need to build self-directed live. Grounded in principles of DEI, accessibility, antiracism, and belonging, our work is guided by a deep commitment to advancing social justice and strengthening our community.
In 2026, Abby’s House proudly celebrates its 50th anniversary, honoring five decades of impact while looking ahead to the future of our mission. To mark this milestone, we invite you to join us at our 17th Annual Hybrid 5K, where everyone who has been part of the Abby’s House story can come together to celebrate what has been accomplished and help build what’s next for the women and children we serve. Your participation helps open the door to opportunity. We hope to see you at the starting line.
Learn more about our work, sponsor the race, or register today.