Cheree still remembers what it felt like growing up, seeing her mom struggle in an abusive relationship.
“I would always say I’d never be in a relationship like that,” she says, thinking back.
But sadly, Cheree found herself facing a similar domestic violence situation as an adult. Her family’s home life had become unstable enough that she wasn’t only worried for her own safety, but also for her four kids—Rickey, Ezra,
Zionna and Za’Riyah.
“It was hard to leave at first. When you have kids with someone, you want to try to stay together. But it wasn’t
good for any of us,” she says.
Getting herself and her kids to safety took months of planning. She called our Hope Ministries Center for Women
and Children daily—sometimes twice a day—waiting for beds to open. And then the day finally came.
“My sister and brother helped me put a plan into action. While he was at work, I gathered all I could. They drove me
to Des Moines,” she says.
It was a difficult transition at first, she remembers. “I was shy. I didn’t want to talk to anybody. Being around so many people was new to my kids. They were closed off at first, too.”
But as the family began to settle in, to interact with staff and other residents, things started changing. “God has
really opened up my heart,” Cheree says today. In fact, while Cheree originally only intended to stay at Hope Center until she’d secured a job and a place to live, she realized our long-term life recovery program was something she needed.
Cheree
“God is healing me. He’s helping me become a better mom, make better choices. I’m applying what I’m learning in classes and changing old patterns.”
“After we first got here, it felt like everything I tried didn’t work. I tried to get a job and I kept failing. Then I learned
about the program and it’s been a good fit.”
Through our Christ-centered program, Cheree is taking classes to help her heal from what she’s been through and
prepare for the future. Her kids are in therapy and they’re thriving in a way they haven’t for a long time.
In fact, Cheree’s family has had a lot to celebrate this summer! In June, Cheree passed her Certified Nursing Assistant exam. That same month, Rickey found out he’d won first place in a statewide high school essay contest.
More than anything, Cheree is grateful to be breaking her family’s old cycle. “I want my kids to be able to look at me
and say, ‘My mom was in this predicament but she did this. She changed her life.’”
To everyone who has helped transform her life—donors, volunteers, staff—Cheree says, “Thank you! Thank you for believing in people like us. Thank you for all the help, all the encouragement, everything you do for us.”
