Hopelink

Let me tell you about this place. Every single person that works here is kind but there are two special employees that really stand out, Nancy for one. She works at the front desk. She is honest and kind. I have cried with her, exchanged hugs. This person is genuine and has a beautiful soul. Mary is the second. I am disabled, I have a disabled son. We are both survivors of domestic violence on top of our disabilities. And Mary, she not only goes out of her way, but her heart is color blind. She truly see's the world discrimination free. Me being both disabled and poor. I cant tell you how many times I get discriminated against for being disabled. Really, it's like people thought I woke up one day and decided "ohh im just not going to work ever again!" Or the DV stuff it's like they they think I either caused this, or that it's my fault for still being stuck in it. And Mary..she helped me in so many ways, including going out of her way even after hours to try and get my family safe. There's something about this woman. She always knows the right things to say. If I am having anxiety about what is going on, her voice is always so calm and understanding. I am not just a client, these employees have become family to me. Thank you Redmond Hopelink, you gave us hope when we were nearly hopeless.

Being hungry is the great equalizer.
First I lost my spouse. We divorced. Then I moved to a new state to become closer to my family and live in temporary housing. I began to look for a job. Since I had quit my job I was not eligible for unemployment. I had sold my house in the divorce so I had a little money in savings to live off of. In three months time I found a place to live and bought a car. But I still did not have a job. As the money dwindled I started looking at outside resources that I 'might' have to utilize. And I continued to look for a job. I had many applications out but no interviews. Then one interview. But no job offer.

Everyone was well meaning with advice. I took room-mates in and they too were re-locating and could not find jobs. It takes a long time when you come from another state. When my money was down to only one more month of rent or food, I signed up for the local foodbank. I left my Louis Vitton wallet that I had purchased after my last job promotion in the car. I was embarrassed to show it. I wondered who else would be in the food-bank. There were too many people for the space. There was a long wait. Some of the food was out of date. But they saved me with food regardless. Everybody there was friendly or desperate, or happy or grateful or hopeful or hopeless. A melting pot of diversity and ranges of lack. As I took my cart through the room I thought about how I am going to come back here and give whatever I can to whomever has to come here. It didn't matter who I was or where I came from. At the food bank, you are just like everybody else. Hungry.