Our collective mental health is taking a hit every day as the world seems to head further into despair. We are bombarded with bad news and negativity from every direction, and our new normal has become a defensive position in a climate of crisis we believe is beyond our control. We need an infusion of good news, and it’s happening at Shelter.

In 1975 our community created Shelter to assist children and families in need, and we’ve spent the last 16,425 days doing just that. We help turn despair into hope, danger into safety, weakness into strength, sickness into health and create homes filled with love.

The following are random examples of the good news made every day. The stories are your stories because they illustrate how we have made positive changes by all working together.

Sheryl’s Story

The only parenting skills Sheryl* learned had been from growing up in an abusive household. When she became pregnant, her husband left her alone and scared. After her son Joshua was born, she enrolled in Shelter’s Healthy Families program. For the next five years, Sheryl worked closely with her caseworker to learn positive parenting skills and how to raise a healthy baby. With support, she gained confidence in herself and a determination to provide a stable and loving home for her and her son, earned her GED and enrolled in college, and is working as a veterinarian assistant. The cycle of abuse has been broken, and Joshua is a happy, healthy little boy.

Olivia’s Story

Thirteen-year-old Olivia had been sexually abused by her father for years. Mistakenly believing she deserved the abuse, she suffered from chronic depression and thoughts of suicide. When the violence increased, Olivia ran away and came to Shelter’s Jennings Home for Girls. That night she said it was the first time in her life she felt safe. With the help of compassionate staff, trauma-informed care, and support services, Olivia began to heal. She came to understand the abuse was no fault of her own, and that she was worthy of love and protection. Today, Olivia is receiving that love and protection living with her aunt. She writes songs of inspiration about the joys of life and hopes one day to be a social worker to pay-it-forward.

The Hanson’s Story

After ten years of marriage, the Hansons had everything they wanted in life except the one thing they wanted most; to have a child they could love unconditionally and with whom they could share their happiness. They had gone through Shelter’s training and been licensed to be foster parents but had been told the wait for a child might be long. Two days later, they received a call. The day after a baby boy was born in a local hospital, his mother abandoned him. The baby was being released from the hospital, and would the Hansons be willing to foster him? The answer was a definite “yes.” Within 24 hours, the baby boy arrived at his new home. Because there was no time to purchase all the equipment needed, Shelter provided a crib, formula, diapers, clothes, and all the essentials that had been donated from our caring community. The Hansons named the baby Jackson, and it was mutual love at first sight. Shelter assisted the parents in adopting Jackson, proving dreams can come true. But the happy ending doesn’t stop there. Two years later, Jackson’s sister was born and was also abandoned in the hospital. The family of three has now become a very happy family of four.

Serena’s Story

Eighteen-year-old Serena was homeless. Her only family was her father, whom she had been supporting. He had no job and would neglect her by leaving home for days at a time. They were being evicted from their apartment, and her father was determined to move out of state against Serena’s wishes. When her father left her alone and homeless, Serena voluntarily joined Shelter’s Youth Experiencing Homelessness program. Her caseworker secured transitional housing for her in an apartment, helped her apply for benefits, advocated for her education, and assisted in her gaining employment, among other support services provided. Today Serena is becoming self-sufficient, is doing well at her job, and going to college. She is looking ahead to a bright future.

Thank you for helping these stories to have happy endings.  The next time you hear someone speaking of doom and gloom, share the good news.

*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of those we serve.