Meet Our New Executive Director, Saundra Halstead

Dear friends and supporters of In My Shoes,

In 2012, Founding Executive Director Maria Puccini relocated to Dallas with a vision: to support pregnant women experiencing homelessness with hope, housing, and support. That vision became In My Shoes, opening in 2017. Since opening, we have housed over 110 women, provided 27,000 safe sleep nights, and hosted 4,300 hours of life skills classes, thanks to Maria’s leadership and the support of our community. For 13 years, Maria has led In My Shoes with dignity, humility, and determination, strengthening our mission and programs. As her own family grows, Maria has decided to step down as Executive Director to focus on her loved ones.

We are pleased to announce that Saundra Halstead has accepted the role of Executive Director of In My Shoes.

Meet Saundra Halstead

Saundra is a passionate nonprofit leader with over ten years of experience serving vulnerable populations through advocacy, program development, and Christian leadership. She was previously Executive Director of another maternity home, bringing firsthand experience supporting women in crisis, trauma, and generational poverty.

Saundra is deeply committed to supporting single mothers, believing their lives deserve respect and dignity. Her leadership is characterized by empathy and a commitment to supporting women through their most challenging moments. As she says, “It’s about being fully present in their pain, not rushing to fix, but choosing to sit with them in hard places—mourning when they mourn, rejoicing when they rejoice, and believing when they can’t believe for themselves.”

She believes transformation occurs when we walk alongside those we serve. Saundra is committed to building trust, honoring each woman’s story, and recognizing their potential.

Looking Ahead

As Saundra steps into this role, she is committed to ensuring In My Shoes continues to provide hope, housing, and support without gaps in service. She is guided by faith, strategy, and compassion, and will lead us into the next chapter with the same dignity, humility, and grit that have defined our work.

Please join us in welcoming Saundra to the In My Shoes family. We ask that you watch our transition video with Maria and Saundra as they share more about this exciting moment.

With your continued support, we will walk alongside the women who need us most, offering not only help but hope without judgment.