Love Story

Sep 08 2021

What It’s All About

When we met Betty, she was attending a Love INC Hearts of Hope Budgeting program and was weighed down with the possibility of bankruptcy. She worked diligently to complete all of the classes and homework but desired one-on-one accountability to make a sustainable change. Betty was paired with a mentor from Outlook Christian Church and together they developed a workable plan for her finances. Her mentor was able to explain the consequences of bankruptcy and showed her how to establish a monthly budget. They developed a plan to utilize community resources such as the food pantry and the H2O program (personal care and cleaning items) to free up money to pay down her debt while still caring for her young daughter and herself. Betty was very eager and determined, she avoided bankruptcy and set a goal for herself to have a place of her own within one year!

Betty embraced the needed changes and would bring to the mentoring meetings her folder with all her receipts and bills. Betty and her mentor would review her progress along with sharing a devotional time. Betty’s determination and discipline paid off! She was able to get a place of her own, where her young daughter has a room of her own and a fenced-in yard to play in! Betty and her mentor still keep in touch.

Dec 14 2015

This is why we serve!

One of our gap ministries received this heartwarming letter. I w anted to pass it along as an encouragement to the many volunteers that make Love INC what it is. I highlighted a couple phrases that are important for everyone to hear.

“September 11, 2015 although a sad anniversary for most, began a new chapter in my life and the lives of my children. I know I mentioned multiple times on that day how much I appreciated everything the Furniture Ministry had done for me, I wanted to say it again but this time I wanted to put it down on paper. I will keep a copy of this letter and it will be a reminder that there are angels among us and I am lucky enough to know a few personally!

So again, THANK YOU for helping me furnish my little apartment. . . .(at the beginning of) the chaos of the situation I knew I had to act quickly. At the time, all I could think was I needed to find us a clean, safe place to live. I hadn’t thought about all the incidentals we would eventually need like beds, a couch, dishes, pots and pans. I recall praying to God that if He could give me the strength to take the next step and secure housing, I would some how figure out the rest. I actually pictured us sleeping on air mattresses and eating at a card table! But He had other plans. He not only gave me the strength I needed, but He also put in my path amazing people with the means to do so much more for the kids and I than I could have ever imagined!

Words cannot express the feeling I get when I hear the kids in their bedrooms, laughing with friends. We are once again able to hang out in the kitchen making dinner together and going over the events of the day or sitting on the couch watching our favorite television shows. You helped make this possible for the kids and I and I will be forever grateful!

(When) first approached about your offer to help, I was embarrassed and ashamed. In my mind, I had gotten myself into this situation and it was my responsibility to get myself out. I have now come to realize that God wants us to help each other. He wants us to lend a hand when we are able. He wants us to lift each other up in times of need. I hope I can be an “angel” for someone just like you have been for me. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.”

As we reach out to our neighbors to give them a hand, we must do all we can to show them they have value, they have potential and that we are merely walking alongside them as they allow God to heal their family.

Apr 07 2015

Theresa

Theresa called in asking for help with her utility bill. She has been on

unemployment and it has been lapsed for four weeks. After listening to her story

Love INC Clearinghouse referred her to Salvation Army for $100 towards her bill.

Here is Theresa’s Facebook response: I really want to thank Ms. Donna for her

help, I don’t know what I would’ve done without her help. … Thank you Ms.

Donna for lifting that worry and burden off of me and thank Christ my savior for

helping me through all of this, I could not do it without His and Ms. Donna’s help.

Mar 23 2015

Here is Meri’s Love Story. . .

When Meri first came to the Job Skills workshop, she was extremely shy and didn’t say much.

By the third night Meri was interacting with others and asking questions. Her self-confidence

was built up by the building of relationships. Meri learned how to gain employment, write her

resume, and improve her interviewing skills. She also learned what her strengths were and how

to market them effectively.

Feb 11 2015

John and Joyce

John and Joyce have been receiving assistance from Love INC since 2013 from resources such as

financial, H2O, and handyman volunteers. In the fall of 2014 they reluctantly agreed to go through the

Hearts of Hope – Money Management program. They were paired with two wonderful volunteers that

walked beside them through this process. The program helped them reevaluate how they were doing

things and improved their budget. They were able to pay a few things off and are continuing to pay on

the rest of their bills. They were also looking for a church and have since started attending First Church

of God on a regular basis and have formed relationships since getting involved at the church.