Hope Times Two

When Debbie and Carol entered our emergency shelter they had two things in common; they were alone and frightened.
"I really thought the shelter was going to be horrible." Carol admits.
"I imagined a dorm with open showers and no privacy." adds Debbie. "Carol and I entered the shelter at about the same time. We kind of helped each other through some rough patches. We encouraged and leaned on each other. We helped out wherever we could at the mission. We found that keeping busy gave us an opportunity to show our appreciation to the people at the mission. I discovered that people do care about me. The staff, volunteers and all the people that come here day in an day out . . . they are all very nice!"
Both Carol and Debbie came to us
because they had no other place to go. Carol lived in her car until a stranger told her to come see us. Debbie came because she had to leave her home. Regardless, the streets are no place for women and children. Most come to the shelter with nothing more than a handful of clothes and little hope for the future.
Today, Carol and Debbie live in one of our short-term transitional housing units with plans to enter a long-term unit as one becomes available. In the meantime, both women are employed and have been a great help here at the mission.
"I thank God for this place", says Carol, "They have really helped me in ways I can’t express . . . It is a special place. I can’t imagine where people would go if the mission wasn’t here."
Carol and Debbie now have a few more things in common. They both found new friendships, confidence in themselves and hope for the future.