At age 56, Kathy never expected to find herself without a home. She had a job, a car and an apartment. While money was tight, she had always managed to pay her bills. In April she lost her job and everything came crashing down.
It wasn’t long before she had lost her car, found herself sleeping on the ground and hiding from her landlord because she didn’t have the rent. Family and friends weren’t able to help financially but one friend took her to Emergency Shelter Services.
“I was scared and felt all alone,” Kathy said. “The staff gave me a shoulder to cry on and listened to me when I needed a good cry or just to talk. They taught me to have self respect again.”
Kathy did not stay idle at Emergency Shelter Services. She learned about teamwork when she helped volunteers build a play area in the backyard of the Shelter during the Week of Caring. “I helped the other volunteers and realized how good it feels to give back,” she said. Then she volunteered for the Historic Pipestone Street Block Club selling flowers and as a tour guide during the Home and Garden Tour.
All the while, Kathy was looking for a job and starting to feel like she was no longer alone. Thanks to you, United Way and Emergency Shelter Services, her life is back on track. Kathy has a new job and is enrolled in a culinary arts program. “My time at Emergency Shelter Services opened doors for me,” she said. “Thanks for believing in me!”
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