09/23/2026
It’s been quite a year for the Alliance YWCA and Executive Director Lori Wemhoff.
Wemhoff officially stepped into her role on January 6, just as the YWCA was gearing up to mark its centennial of service to the Carnation City after facing a period when it was feared the organization would be shuttered.
Wemhoff spoke candidly about taking over at such a pivotal moment when she visited with members of the Alliance Rotary Club earlier this summer.
“That would have been a terrible moment,” said Wemhoff, who is still a member of the Chicago Rotary Club, where she worked for a time before returning home to Ohio. “To exist for 99 years and then to not be here would be devastating to Alliance.”
Wemhoff set off on a “listening tour” as she got if front of civic groups across the area to rebuild community trust, repair relationships, and restore the organization's reputation.
“When anyone in my family or friends ask me how my job is going, I tell them that I truly believe that I have found my calling," said Wemhoff, who said she is driven by a desire to do hands-on non-profit work close to home as she continues to lead the Alliance YWCA.
She and her dedicated staff has worked diligently to secure targeted grants to put the YWCA back on strong footing and to continue the organization’s mission in its three core operational pillars: Meals on Wheels, the Fashion Boutique, and transitional housing for women.
Through a network of dedicated volunteers, Meals on Wheels is also celebrating a milestone this year as it has provided nutritious food to the elderly and other shut-ins throughout the area for 35 years.
The Fashion Boutique, housed in The Commons, provides low-cost, accessible clothing and professional attire to support individuals in the community—especially those preparing for job interviews, returning to the workforce, or navigating sudden financial hardship.
Meanwhile, transitional housing continues to be a need in Alliance and Donna Jean’s House continually operates at full capacity. The facility, managed by the YWCA, provides low-cost, supportive housing for employed single women, women with children, and families while they actively look for permanent living arrangements.
Beyond shelter, the YWCA assists residents with basic emergency needs to help them get back on their feet, such as gas cards and bus passes.
“The level of need is so extreme,” said Wemhoff. “Women that come into our facility — some need just a gas card or a bus pass. It came to me very early on what a charmed and blessed life I have lived.”
The next major event in the Alliance YWCA’s Centennial Celebration will be its annual Unity Walk from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, October 3.
“We've done everything we can with what we have in a very short amount of time,” said Wemhoff of herself and her entire staff. “We've put as many things as possible on the calendar to get the organization back out in front of people and show them that we’re here, and we intend to be here for another 100 years."
---
The Alliance Rotary Club meets from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Wednesday at the Alliance Elks. Those interested in joining the Alliance Rotary Club should contact Mark Locke by email at [email protected]
