Change Requires Relationships
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Top-down solutions from impersonal government agencies are ineffective in reducing the prevalence of poverty and homelessness in our communities. Successful and meaningful change is best executed at the most local level where businesses and neighbors work together to empower those in desperate situations.
People need to be seen and valued as individuals. We were created for community and relationships which allow us to thrive—and government programs cannot meet the fundamental need to be known as a uniquely created person in the image of God.
Meet Randy
We Know Randy
Randy’s parents were alcoholics, and as a result, Randy had a rough start in life. By the age of 19, he had already been to prison. After losing his mom while he was lost in his addiction, Randy felt consumed by guilt. He felt like his life had no meaning, and he even tried to take his own life and found himself in a psychiatric unit. His future looked grim.
But we got to know Randy—and we see him as more than just a statistic. We know his story, his struggles, and his dreams. This knowledge has allowed us to provide Randy with the personalized care he needs to prepare for a brighter future. And we are committed to walking alongside him every step of the way—this is what effective charity looks like.
Get to Know Erica
“I’ve never been around people who did nice things for you simply out of love and kindness.”
We know Erica and her two young children escaped a life of domestic violence. We know she came to our family center with almost nothing, having left nearly all of her belongings behind.
“I was skeptical of this place. After a few days, I just had to clear the air. I wanted to know what the angle was here. What were these people wanting in return?” With tears in her eyes, she continued, “I’ve never been around people who did nice things for you simply out of love and kindness.”
Erica has been clean off of drugs for over 4 months now, and in that short time she is already reconnected with family, attending church, and regaining her physical health and beginning to look for work.
Erica and her two young children fled from domestic violence, leaving almost everything behind. When they arrived at the Washington Family Center in Joplin, MO, Erica was understandably struggling with anxiety and trust issues. But the people she met there soon became more than just staff or volunteers; they became her friends.
Through tears, Erica told us, “I’ve never been around people who did nice things for you simply out of love and kindness.”
With the support of her new friends, Erica has been clean for over four months and is starting to rebuild her life. Her children are doing well, too. Her three-year-old daughter is speaking more than ever before, and her eight-year-old son is rediscovering the joys of childhood.
Erica’s son told us, “This place feels like heaven touches earth. We aren’t leaving.”
For Erica and her children, the family center was more than just a safe place to stay; it was a place where they found love, friendship, and hope for a brighter future.
Meet Erica
Meet Brett
And We Know Brett, too
We know Brett. His struggle with alcohol began when he was just a child, and it only got worse as he grew older. By the time he reached adulthood, he was panhandling on the streets to feed his addiction.
Thankfully, Brett’s story doesn’t end there. Through the help of compassionate individuals who took the time to get to know him, he was able to turn his life around.
Listening to Brett’s testimony, you can hear the pain and desperation in his voice. You can feel the weight of his struggles and the hopelessness he once felt. But you can also hear the hope that comes from knowing that someone cares.
Randy’s, Erica’s, and Brett’s stories are only unique in that they found themselves on the path to independence as a result of the relationships that helped them to find freedom from dependency. Their backgrounds are just the same as the more than 200,000 unsheltered homeless individuals who will be sleeping on the streets tonight.
When we take the time to really know someone in need, we discover we are more alike than we are different. This empathy allows us to truly help those in need more effectively. We’re all human beings, made in the image of God, and we all deserve love and compassion.
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