"She Looked the Happiest She Ever Has"

Lisa was living in transitional housing with her three daughters when she first heard about Together for Good in Waco. Lisa reached out to our staff, hoping to receive respite care for her two youngest daughters, Anna and Olivia.

Lisa was working 4 am to 9 am shifts at a shipping company six days a week to save money to sign a lease on an apartment, providing more stable housing for her family. While Lisa worked, Alexis – her teenage daughter – cared for the four and six-year-old girls. Lisa was most interested in Together for Good because it would relieve some of the responsibility on Alexis to watch Anna and Olivia.

Chic, Lisa's TFG Case Manager, was able to find a host family to care for Anna and Olivia during monthly respite hostings. Shortly after these hostings started, Lisa found an apartment for her family to move to! She shared the exciting news with Chic, who organized a team of Together for Good support volunteers to help Lisa move. The volunteers helped load the moving truck and unpack at the new apartment. Not only did they provide time and effort, but the support volunteers bought many needed household items – like a beautiful couch, vacuum, headboards, art, and rugs – and surprised Lisa and her daughters with them.

Shortly after the move, Chic met with Lisa and said, “She looked the happiest she’s looked since I met her.” The wrap-around support during the move and the extra blessing of furniture were such tangible outpourings of love for Lisa and her children. Not only were urgent needs such as care met through TFG volunteers, but the practical – and often overwhelming – help in moving showed Lisa that she has a community that she and her daughters can rely on. 

As Lisa and her children start this new chapter in their lives, they know that they are not alone. They have host families, support volunteers, and Lisa’s new parent advocate who are committed to walking alongside them.

*Participant names have been changed to their protect privacy.