Client Spotlight - Reconnecting with Pedro, Miguel, and Aliya
Pedro, Miguel, and their mother, Aliya, were the first family to reside in Phase II of The Rathgeber Center for Families in 2020. When they arrived at the shelter, they were experiencing homelessness and received critical resources that helped Aliya regain self-sufficiency. Eventually, she was able to leave the shelter safely with her two boys. Recently, the family paid a visit to The Rathgeber Center to update us on their progress since successfully transitioning to independent living.
Carrie Green, Shelter Director at The Rathgeber Center, wanted to make the visit special, so she arranged a surprise for them. Thanks to her efforts, Pedro and Miguel both received a bike, and their mother received a basket of essential household items. The family was overjoyed, and the boys couldn't wait to ride their bikes! Aliya was moved to tears, sharing that her older son had learned to ride a bike for the first time while they were staying at The Rathgeber Center. She expressed her gratitude for the gifts and the support they received when they were in the shelter.
Reconnecting with the family was a heartwarming experience for everyone at The Rathgeber Center. It was touching to hear how appreciative they still were for the help they received years ago. The mother became emotional as she reminisced about raising her children in the shelter. She expressed how thankful she was for the staff, who provided her with the support she needed to grow as a person and mother. She was especially grateful for their unwavering presence, watching over her children as they learned and grew.
To support families like Pedro, Miguel, and Aliya’s, make a donation or shop our shelter wish lists at doingmostgood.org/Wish