There is a new name for an Emporia agency with a long history of helping women in crisis.
The Plumb Place Board of Directors has retired the Plumb Place name as part of a meeting this month. In its place is the name Southwick House, which honors the work of Carrie Plumb by using her maiden name.
The Jan. 9 meeting also officially dismissed the previous request to Lyon County District Court to dissolve the agency as a whole. Bylaws, financial policies, officer appointments and the new name selection were also part of the meeting.
The Southwick House Board of Directors is in the process of “organizing, reestablishing and laying the foundations” for a shelter — or shelters — to help women and children suffering from “displacement and homelessness.” The next board meeting is at 6 pm Feb. 13 at the Flint Hills Technical College main campus.
Plumb Place ceased operations in December 2020 after a century of serving women due to lingering effects from over $50,000 in missing funds and an inability to reposition itself during the first nine months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
KVOE News has reached out to Southwick House board member Joelle Spotswood for additional information.
