When my mom and I pulled up to the Honor HER Foundation with bags of clothing to donate, we expected a quick drop-off — a few kind smiles and a thank you. What we didn’t expect was to be welcomed into one of the most inspiring, faith-fueled stories of hope and resilience.
Inside the quiet office and home, we were greeted by Barbara Francis, President of the Honor HER Foundation. Her warmth immediately filled the room and she began sharing the story of the woman whose faith started the Foundation. Nancy Bullock-Prevot, a U.S. Navy veteran who saw a need in her community and refused to wait for someone else to fix it.
Nancy’s idea for the foundation was born from a simple conversation and a challenge from her husband.
“She was upset about something she’d seen and went to her husband to vent,” Barbara told us. “He looked at her and said, ‘What are you going to do about it?’”
That question lit a fire. Nancy sat down and wrote a business plan. Her husband reminded her that the military had already invested in her, and it was time to use those tools for something greater.
From there, Nancy began searching for a property. A place that could become a safe haven for women veterans experiencing homelessness. She connected with a local realtor, who found an old computer business building for sale. The price? $149,900. The problem? They had no money.
That didn’t stop Nancy.
“She called the owner,” Barbara said with a laugh. “And she said, ‘Would you give it to me?’”
The owner, understandably surprised, told her he’d need to pray about it. Nancy simply replied, “Okay. Call me when you hear from the Lord again.”
Months went by and then on Veterans Day 2016, the phone rang.
“The Lord told me to give it to you,” he said.
Barbara smiled as she told us that part of the story. “He asked for two things, he wanted to stay anonymous, and to close before the end of the year. And she did.”
The real work began once Nancy had the keys. “We had the building, but it needed everything, remodeling, repairs, furniture,” Barbara said. “Nancy prayed. She fasted. She reached out to the church community, and people showed up.”
Local business owners donated their time and materials. Someone owned a window company and replaced every window. Another ran a tree-trimming business and cleared the property. A dumpster company dropped off dumpsters for free.
Nancy’s only request for volunteers: “Please don’t make it look like an institution. Make it look like your grandkids are coming to visit.”
When it came time to furnish the rooms, the military community stepped in again. Hurlburt Field donated beds, the Navy Lodge provided washers, dryers, and mini-fridges, and local sponsors adopted rooms — each one decorated with care and dignity.
Later, through a wish list opportunity with Impact 100, the foundation received new beds, nightstands, and dressers.
“One woman saw the list and called to say she had $2,500 to help,” Barbara shared. “I went a little over budget, about $500 and she said, ‘That’s okay, I’ll send $3,000.’”
The generosity didn’t stop there. Local churches and organizations have continued to support the foundation, helping them furnish rooms and care for women who come through their doors seeking safety, stability, and hope.
Although Nancy has since passed away, her mission lives on through Barbara and the all-volunteer team who keep the foundation thriving.
Barbara, a 20-year Navy veteran herself, carries the same steadfast spirit.
“We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides housing and services to homeless women veterans along the Gulf Coast,” she said. “What makes us unique is that we operate solely on volunteers and community dollars. Every dollar given goes directly to support the women, not administrative costs.”
Currently, the foundation can house up to ten women at a time.\
“We’ve seen over a hundred come through,” Barbara said. “Each story is different, domestic violence, PTSD, military sexual trauma, anxiety, homelessness. No two are ever the same.”
When new residents arrive, Barbara starts with one question: Where did you sleep last night?
“It opens the door for them to share their story,” she said. “And once they do, you start to see the healing begin.”
Walking through the home and rooms that women now call home, it’s impossible not to feel the spirit of what Nancy built, a foundation rooted in faith, love, and resilience.
Beyond the cozy bedrooms, the foundation also includes an office space with internet access, where residents can apply for jobs, write resumes, and take the next steps toward independence. Just down the hall is a donation closet, neatly filled with clothing for women who often arrive with little more than a bag of clothes and a few personal items.
“Many of our ladies come here with nothing,” Barbara said. “So when they need clothes for a job interview or just to feel like themselves again, this closet gives them that confidence.”
That’s exactly what inspired my mom and me to visit, to fill that closet with pieces we loved, hoping they might help someone else step into a new chapter with confidence and purpose.
As Barbara told us, “This isn’t about us. It’s about giving women back their dignity. It’s about saying, ‘You matter.’”
Walking out that afternoon, my mom and I felt good. We felt lighter. And we felt excited that the clothes we once wore and were excited about would now get a new life and, in turn, breathe some new life into women who may need it more than we know.
To learn more about the Honor HER Foundation or to support their mission to help women veterans rebuild their lives, visit www.honorher.org.
