After meeting Lucinda in her in her newly furnished apartment we asked her to share with us what the last couple years have been like for her and her family. “We left our 4 bedroom house; my situation was a little different. My son committed suicide two years ago in November. We all just went downhill, we gave up, we lost all hope. We ended up on the riverbed, the 57 freeway and Orangewood because we didn’t have anywhere else to go. I got my kids into a program but everything still looked hopeless, we never dreamed we would get out and have something like this” (Lucinda looks around her apartment).
This bring us so much joy, this is amazing what you have done. It’s God, we are truly blessed, and we didn’t have anything. We went from a tent and a little cooking stove to now being able to get up from a sofa and walk into the kitchen for a cup of soda or glass of water. Being able to wash your hands, it a small thing but it was so important. My children are a lot happier now than they were before. Of course we went to the shelter but that’s nothing like having your own home. We can come and go as we please, the kids can make all the noise they want, they can jump around and just be kids. I appreciate everything you have done for us, from the bottom of my heart. It is beautiful. I can’t wait to show everyone.”
Lucinda was referred to Furnishing Hope by Colette’s Children’s Home after graduating from their program. Lucinda’s plans for the future are to continue caring for her family, working and to further her education.
