It’s not often that we get flowers in our Mohm’s Place kitchen at New Visions, but about a month ago, our kitchen staff arrived one morning to see several pots of flowers lining our silver food prep tables. The flowers were a gift from some of our regular kitchen volunteers, and they were to be given to Brenda, one of our kitchen staff members who had just learned that she would soon be getting a home.
Brenda first came to New Visions back in 2021. She was experiencing homelessness and had faced a lot of trauma in her life including addiction and a husband who left her after 32 years. Brenda started off as a volunteer in our Mohm’s Place kitchen, where she quickly connected with our staff and was offered a job. Soon after coming to work for us, Brenda met Nicole, one of our shelter caseworkers. Nicole assessed Brenda’s needs and began to work with ANAWIM Housing to find a perfect fit for her. It took some time, but in May of 2023, Brenda was housed! This week she received furniture from The Furniture Project to help make her house into a home.
“People used to bet on me, that I wouldn’t make it,” says Brenda, “but at some point I realized that I was better than addiction, and that I didn’t need to continue to suffer because of my broken marriage.” Although Brenda’s earlier life was anything but rosy, Brenda is now truly blossoming. Like the flowers given to her by our volunteers, Brenda is putting down roots and settling into the soil in her new home. She has a simple wish, to enjoy the rest of her life in peace. She’s certainly earned it, and we’re glad we could be a part of her beautiful story. Many thanks to our friends at ANAWIM and The Furniture Project for collaborating with us to bring help, hope, and opportunity to so many people like Brenda.
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