The Door Swings Two Ways

I remember November the fourth.  That was the day that I walked into The Salvation Army.  That day could have been a bright, sunny day, but at that moment everything around me was dark.

I remember the lady at the front desk asked how she could help me.  I remember trying to talk to her as I broke down into tears while explaining that I had no place to stay and I needed shelter.  I was immediately given a roof over my head, food to eat and a bed to lay my weary body.  During my stay at Salvation Army I met other ladies who were going through similar situations.  After going through a depression, I began to deal with my sadness and anger and began attending programs, classes and bible studies.  I began to start feeling more uplifted and realized that God had a real plan for me.

The shelter staff and my case manager encouraged me all through my trip to a new beginning.  I want to tell you that having caring people behind you really means a lot.  I am now working and recently started going to school.  I even found my own apartment!

I believe with God’s blessings and the Salvation Army’s help I am now on my way.  Like I said, the door swings two ways, you may walk in down, but you can walk out with your head held high knowing that you are blessed and not having to look back at the garbage you left behind.

Thank you Salvation Army.  God is good all the time!

School on Wheels Partners with Monday Funday!

Monday, January 11 was an exciting day for us here at the shelter – it was the first day of the new and improved “Monday Funday!”

Monday Funday is a mentoring group that was started last summer by a group of volunteers.  Originally intended to be a 14 week program, it was so successful with the residents and the volunteers that we decided to carry it over into the school year.  School nights changed what the activities of Monday Funday looked like but it surely didn’t change the positive relationships being built between our kids and volunteers!  Each week volunteers spend about an hour helping the children with their homework or an educational activity.  After that we end the night with a fun activity or craft.

This spring semester we have teamed up with one of our long time partners, School on Wheels, to make Monday nights even more effective.  School on Wheels is helping our mentors improve their tutoring skills with improved resources and approaches that have proven to be effective through their years of tutoring.

We’re excited about our new partnership and can’t wait to see what this semester will unfold!

A Success Story

Sonny* came to our shelter from Chicago after leaving a very abusive situation with her son’s parents.  Sonny struggled both with  finding a job and with her son, who is truly an example of the terrible twos!  She finally found a job at Steak n’ Shake working days.  She worked very close with the Homeless Initiative Program and found herself an apartment.  Sonny moved out the shelter 2 weeks before Christmas.  Sonny continues to come to the shelter for case management and childcare.  She is also enrolled in our Continuing Support program, in which we can assist her with food and household items.  Sonny is now currently taking classes at Ivy Tech and her son is thriving in their new apartment.  He will begin Head Start in the fall.

*Names have been changed to protect the confidentiality of our clients