Beacon Newsletter - Summer 2011
A "Thank You" from Emily
When Emily came to Lighthouse Ministries, she was pending an eviction and she had nowhere else to turn. She explained to the volunteer advocate that "There is no one to help me. I have done everything I can think of, including selling my blood!" She was just a few days away from being homeless.
Emily is a young woman working hard, going to school and is determined to make it on her own. When Emily was young, her mother was not providing for her and she was sent to live with her grandmother, never really knowing her mother. Even though she grew up with all odds against her, she has just completed her third year of college. Emily was able to make ends meet while she had a job, a roommate and was receiving financial aid to complete school. Unfortunately, she lost her grandmother and her job, the roommate moved and the financial aid ended when school ended. The first month, she sold her jewelry and anything of value to help pay the rent. The second month, she sold platelets to a blood bank. With nowhere else to turn and no family members to help, Emily came to Lighthouse Ministries for assistance.
We were able to assist her with rent and refer her to Angel Food Ministries for affordable food, and give her encouragement and hope.
Emily called us a few weeks later to thank us for helping her through her crisis and said she is now doing well. She has a new job and a new roommate to help share the cost of rent. She is carefully monitoring her utility usage and budget and looking for a second job. She is starting her senior year at school and will get her degree in spring. Her grandmother would be proud!