In August 2015, Mary and her 12-year-old daughter, Emily, became homeless. Shortly after, they moved into the rescue mission and began rebuilding their lives. After working hard and saving, Mary was able to find an apartment just before Christmas 2015. Through the help of the rescue mission, Mary had her apartment fully furnished. She attended our holiday toy store where she was able to pick out gifts for her daughter. Mary shared, “One of the hardest things about being homeless was not waking up in our own home. It was wonderful to wake up in our own place on Christmas and see gifts under the tree. Having a home was the greatest gift I could give my daughter.” Today, Mary is employed at a treatment center and is currently earning her Drug and Alcohol Counseling Certification. Emily was recently accepted into the magnet program at her school. This year for the holidays, Mary and her daughter will be volunteering to help homeless families. Mary’s goal is to give others the courage they need to succeed and overcome their challenges.