My name is Crystal and I started with Dress for Success Program years ago. My first encounter with the organization blows my mind. I was in a bad relationship, bad job and thought of nothing better for myself. Until one day I was invited to attend one of the Saturday meetings and from that day on my life was changed. They taught me how to take seven pieces of clothing and make outfits for a week. I loved this, especially since I didn't have very many clothing to wear. They taught me how to do resumes and how to do successful interviews. My first practice interview went well. Before going to my interview the instructor had given me some good advice. She suggested to me, in doing my interview ask the interviewer to share a personal story about her in the work place and I did just that. At the end of the interview she told me I did a great job and it was her pleasure to talk with me. I then said to her in a laughing way," If this was a real interview would you hire me?" and she said "Yes." I then said, "Are you guys hiring? And she said, "Yes,” I said, “Will you hire me?” And she said," YES." I was hired as a full-time bank teller. I now reside in Atlanta, GA and was once again invited to attend a Saturday Dress for Success (DFS) meeting. I 'm now a part of the Processional Women’s Group (PWG), and giving back to women and I just wanted to say, Thank you.

I recently joined the board of Connections because of my interest in the work that they are doing and the positive impact that they have on our community. They work with a very vulnerable and underserved population, and they meet both the spiritual and physical needs of their clients. I have been impressed by the way that the very hardworking, caring, and dedicated staff members treat their clients with dignity and respect. Connections not only provides food, shelter, and support to its clients but helps them to become productive members of our community through the Connect to Work program in which clients who have barriers to employment are trained to get and keep a job. Connection provides employment both directly through the establishment of its own businesses and indirectly through contact with the community at large. I am proud to be associated with this organization. Bonnie Silbermann

I came to Connections as a Public Ally serving out a year of service. I worked as the Volunteer Coordinator for Connections, and had a great time working with community members, Connections' consumers, and Connections staff. The organization does amazing work, and all of the staff are really dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable and disenfranchised Delawareans. The first Quaker Hill Neighborhood Clean-Up this May was a personal highlight-- it was awesome to get together with staff, consumers, and community members to plant flowers and make the Quaker Hill neirhgborhood a beautiful and clean place for Connections' consumers to live. All in all, Connections is a really great organization and one I'm proud to have served.

I often hear Rochelle who is on the Connections staff talking about working at this Connections site on Sundays. Connections opens its doors on Sunday for anyone to get some shelter and something to eat and drink. I think it is wonderful for the people with no where to go to have a safe place to go and get a little rest and whatever else is available for that day. Rochelle is always pleasant and friendly to all the clients and they give her respect because she gives them respect when o often others do not. I hope to continue to send a donation whenever I can and I hope others will do the same. This is definitely a much needed servive that Connections does a great job at providing.

Connections represents the best that non-profits have to offer. It is continually evlving and reshaping to meet the needs of the community and it constituants. COnnections Clients are the down trodden and defensless. COnnections gives then treatment, shelter and food> Most importantly, for those who want it, they get a path forward off the streets and back to society

Connections is a terrific, award-winning non-profit agency with a caring and competent staff. My experience with them is that they serve some of the neediest people in Delaware in a quality fashion.

Over the many years that we have been involved with Connections, I have had the oppotunity to see first-hand the numerous lives this organization touches, and the difference it makes in those lives. From help for the homeless to substance abuse treatment and rehabilitaion programs, to housing programs for low-income families and shelters for at- risk women, this organization does it all. Their selfless and tireless staff has a genuine caring for the people they serve that is evident from the first moment you meet them. To them, what they do it isn't a job, but a calling to take on the responsibility of caring for the less fortnuate among us. Recently, our staff volunteered at an event held at one of Connections locations. There, Thanksgiving dinner was served to more 350 people who otherwise may not have had one. Maybe not uncommon at first glance, but the operative word here is SERVED. This was not the usual cafeteria style meal served in other (worthy) kitchens. These folks were seated at their tables and waited-on by the Connections and volunteer staff as any one of us would be at our favorite restaurant. We could see that this special treatment alone was uplifting for many of those who dined at Connections that day. Folks who likely never have an oppotunity to go out to eat, were treated like we would expect to be treated at the best place in town. Connections staff prepared dozens of turkeys, with all of the trimmings - nothing spared. It was first-class treatment all the way. It's this willingness to go the extra mile to truly make a differnce in the lives of the people in their community that differentiates Connections.