THANK YOU NOTES AND SUCCESS STORIES

This success story features a single mother of 3 children who is currently pregnant with her 4th child. She moved from a large town in Illinois to get away from her drug-abusing mother. While in Illinois, she lived with her sister during her 3rd pregnancy at which time her mother came to stay with them. Her mother brought with her a drug-using life style upon moving in. She didn’t want her children to grow up in such an environment so she started putting in applications for housing in the Midwest. She finally received word that she had been approved in the area and packed up the children and some clothes, leaving everything she knew to start a new life. When she arrived in the area she didn’t know of any of the resources available to her. She was without employment, transportation, furniture and a support system.

The only thing that she had in her new apartment was a kitchen table provided by the landlord but that was all the furniture that they had. She was finally able to buy an air mattress for the family to sleep on until she could locate beds. UDMO staff found a bed that was donated by a member of the community so she could have her own bed. Additional bedding was donated by another member of the community.

She uses the bus to get to work but due to her shift ending at 11 p.m. she has to take a cab home. Each cab ride is $7/ride. The cab rides for the month use up $150 of her $495 monthly FIP check.

She is currently employed 40 hours per week for a manufacturing company in the area. She likes the work that she does but struggles with her schedule since her oldest child is in school until 3 p.m. Her cousin watches the children for her when she is working but she doesn’t feel that her daughter gets the help she needs with her homework.

During her short time with FaDSS she has found and maintained employment, accessed public transportation, maintained all doctor appointments, does all her own self-advocating and has located numerous household items such as a couch, television, Christmas tree and a shelf. She is a true believer in hard work and dedication. She has thanked me numerous times for the services that FaDSS and UDMO have helped her with or directed her to.

"I can't begin to thank you enough for all the nice things you sent my way. I really couldn't believe all that I received. . . . I hope and pray that you will be blessed, because not only now, but in the past, you have been good to me. I actually thought it was going to be a solemn Christmas. You showed me the love of friends at Christmas. I feel bad that I can't do much except for a thank you. It doesn't seem enough."

"I would like to thank you for the wonderful gifts you gave my children. The joy in their eyes on Christmas morning was wonderful. They said 'there is a Santa'. I told them that God made some wonderful people out there and Christmas is one fo the times God shows us. It was a wonderful moment. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart"

"I thank you for the help with my heating bill. I don't know how I would have made it without the help. I also extend my gratitude for the box of groceries and the jacket I received before Christmas. Everything was so nice and usable.

With heartfelt thanks!"

"Thank you for everything. You are the reason for my achievements. Take care. You're a very special part of my life."