Making A Difference That Matters
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TERRELL GRAVITATES TOWARD FAITH-BASED PROGRAM, RESTORES RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
In 2020 Terrell moved from his home state of Illinois to California in hopes of starting a new career and new life. But COVID changed all of that. Terrell found himself alone in a new state with no job and no plan B. Looking to fill the void of being lost and with no direction,…
ABIGAIL OVERCOMES CHILDHOOD TRAUMA, AND PROVIDES FOR HER CHILDREN
Abigail’s childhood was filled with many disappointments. Since both parents were drug addicts, at birth Abigail was adopted by her great aunt. She was raised alongside her adopted siblings and her great-aunt’s boyfriend, who molested her from 14 to 17 years old. School was Abigail’s “safe place and escape,” she said. “My house was very…
MATT REUNITES WITH HIS WIFE AND GETS LIFE BACK ON TRACK AFTER STAY AT RENEWED HOPE
A brain injury made it difficult to cope; reconnecting with God was the answer Matt came to Renewed Hope in August-he had been calling for the month prior ensuring there was room for him. His money to pay for a bed at a sober living facility had run out. His mother-in-law had been helping out,…
SANDY BUILDS CONNECTIONS AND COMMUNITY AS HOME AGAIN VOLUNTEER
Her advice? Start serving by doing something small Bringing people together in the community for a greater good is at the very heart of why Sandy Neville does what she does. Sandy started as a volunteer at Home Again in 2010. It was Easter, and she played with the kids on the playground and made…
LUZ ESCAPES CONTROLLING RELATIONSHIP, PROVIDES STABILITY FOR HER DAUGHTER
With her mom from Puerto Rico and her dad from Mexico, Luz is proud to be a first-generation American. Although her parents separated shortly after she was born, her dad, who won full custody, was a wonderful parent to Luz. “I was very close to my dad,” Luz said. “I was never scared to talk…
AFTER GRADUATING THE PROGRAM AT A SISTER MINISTRY, FRANK TAKES HELM OF MISSION’S KITCHEN
Frank has good memories from his childhood, growing up in Oxnard with his parents and two siblings, spending time in the kitchen. “I remember watching my mom cook and helping out when the family got together.” This is when his love for cooking was born. In his 30s, Frank started drinking, and it became so…
ANDREW COMES BACK FROM THE BRINK, CONNECTS WITH GOD
Even though Andrew knew his father, the two did not have a relationship, leaving Andrew’s mother as his No. 1 supporter. They had a great relationship “My mom is my best friend,” he said. “She never gave up on me.” When Andrew was 12, he reached out to his father in an effort to have…
VICTORIA AND HER DAUGHTERS TRIUMPH OVER HOPELESSNESS
Victoria grew up in a Christian home in Kampala, Uganda with her single mom and sister. “I had a happy childhood and God-fearing mom,” Victoria said. “She wanted us to fear God and respect God more than her.” In 2005 after her mom passed away from cancer, Victoria started to think about furthering her education…
Jennifer will ‘use this experience and grow from it’
Jennifer and her two siblings were raised in the Valley by a single mom who cleaned houses for a living. “My mom was verbally abusive to me and my siblings growing up,” Jennifer said. “We knew she loved us. She learned to be like that growing up with her family in El Salvador. She just…
After detox, Robert finds the Mission: ‘I knew I needed more’
Robert grew up mostly in the San Fernando Valley, the second oldest of five siblings. His family was close. “We were a normal functioning family, doing everything together,” said Robert. “We went to church on Sundays.” Unfortunately, when Robert was 13 the family changed. “Everything in our family was good until my early teen years,”…
Quinceañera honors special resident on her 15th birthday
A quinceañera is considered a rite of passage for some Hispanic families and as Amber’s 15th birthday was approaching I asked her if she had a wish for that day. She stated that she would love to have a quinceañera, but that she knew that couldn’t happen given their situation. Her family has experienced homeless-ness…
Recent graduate moves on after welcoming, supportive stay
Juanita struggles to reflect on her childhood. “It was so full of trauma that it’s even hard to talk about as an adult,” she said. Originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana, Juanita was brought up by a single mother when she was young. But in her later childhood years, she started getting shuffled around. “I didn’t…
