As we approach the end of another transformative year, I want to share with you the long-term impact people in our community experience when your generosity unites with our mission.
Our mission is all about transformation.
We journey alongside people during some of the most pivotal moments in their lives. Through the supportive housing model, we offer loving wrap-around support and constant reminders of their powerful potential. We work with others in the community to help people access the tools and resources needed for their journey. We want to see people leave our programs proud of their accomplishments and with hope restored.
One young person’s story, in particular, reminds me of the transformation that happens in a person’s life in less than two years, and the implications on our collective future.
DeeDee faced many adverse childhood experiences and by the age of 21, she found herself with nowhere to go.
After three months in our short-term transitional program for young adults, DeeDee moved into our New Heights supportive housing program. With a team behind her, she was able to access mental health services, return to school, and increase her income. She enrolled in the State College of Florida’s nursing program and secured a job as a personal care attendant.
“My experience with Harvest House has been life-changing. For the first time, I have a home I can call my own. I can now maintain a stable schedule at work, school, and socially. If it wasn’t for the commitment and patience of the Harvest House community, I wouldn’t have been able to make it this far. My appreciation and gratitude towards this program and the dedicated people here will forever be in my heart.”
A year and a half later, DeeDee is a straight A student, a budding artist, and a stellar employee at her job. She has saved enough money to move into her own place when she completes the program. A donor recently heard of her accomplishments and doubled her savings!
For the first time in her life, DeeDee has a space that she can call her own. She couldn’t wait to decorate her room with string lights and canvases she painted at our Youth Drop-In Center. You can tell that she takes pride in her space, and that it reflects the newfound peace in her life.
To be a place of powerful transformation for DeeDee and others, we intentionally create spaces of love and belonging. We practice grace and patience. We model compassion and forgiveness. We utilize the principles of trauma informed care, and we believe in upholding human dignity, no matter what.
Because of your support, this powerful place of transformation is a home for everyone here. We could not do this work without you.
By making a gift today, you will help the next person who walks through our doors find a place to belong, recover from life’s wounds, restore their identity, and ultimately get the chance to live life abundantly.
