These stories are true, but the names have been changed for reasons of confidentiality.

Improving Community Health

Jeff lost his wife to cancer in early 2004.  Overcome with grief, he began drinking heavily.  Jeff’s drinking started to interfere with his work, and he was soon not able to maintain any one of his successful jobs as school custodian, railroad worker, and deputy sheriff.  In early summer 2005, Jeff made the difficult decision to take a step forward and find help.  When he first arrived at SABLE House, he was economically, socially, and spiritually lost.  Jeff was welcomed with open arms and was explained the expectations and responsibilities of SABLE House.  He was also given information about the AA program and immediately began attending meetings, which have given Jeff a strong support network and a sponsor.  With regained hope for the future that Jeff received from SABLE House, he decided to enroll at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the accounting program.  SABLE House helped Jeff realize that he didn’t have to face difficult times alone, which continues to motivate him as he completes his degree and starts a new chapter in his life.

Carrie is a single mom in her late 20’s with two children.  Before the children’s father left, he emotionally and verbally abused her.  Because of this, Carrie had low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression.  This stopped her from seeking gainful employment.  It also caused problems with her children and sometimes made it difficult for Carrie to even get them to school.  When Carrie found ICS, she was reaching her lowest point.  She began sessions immediately and was initially prescribed an anti-depressant to help her.  Over the course of ten sessions (eight months time) Carrie made great progress.  She stopped taking the anti-depressant and started to learn how to handle the issues she had been struggling with in her life.  Carrie also found a new job and her children have not missed school.  She has gained control of life and is now looking forward to the future.

Addressing the Needs of At Risk Youth

When Jessica first became a Girl Scout, she had an “I can’t” attitude.  She was reluctant to participate in Girl Scout events because she was unsure of herself and her abilities.  Jessica’s mom was a working parent and did not have a lot of time to spend trying new things with her daughter.  But with encouragement from her fellow Girl Scouts and leaders, Jessica’s openness to new activities grew along with her excitement.  The first time that Jessica went skiing, everyone in her troop cheered her on until she made it down the hill.  When Girls Scouts took her rock-climbing, Jessica happily stated, “If I can ski, I can rock-climb.”  With each opportunity that Girl Scouts brings to Jessica, she gains confidence and self-esteem that she takes with her to the next new challenge.

Integrating Diverse Populations

Nina moved to the United States from Mexico more than eight years ago.  Although she attended college in Mexico and received a certification as an administrative assistant, Nina was only able to work in her field briefly before her move.  In the U.S. she began working at a factory, which she did for many years before she found JCLC.  When she first arrived, Nina had intermediate English skills and was placed with a one-to-one tutor to help her improve her pronunciation, expand her vocabulary and gain reading and writing skills.  After one year of tutoring and much success, Nina joined group classes at JCLC as another avenue to continue to improve her skills.  In December of 2005, JCLC offered her a position volunteering in the office one morning per week and as assistant editor to the “Hola Amigos” bilingual newsletter.  Today Nina fills in for the Program Coordinator performing many office duties and is currently working on the newsletter, developing layout and articles on her own.  Every week higher-skilled tasks are placed before her and she takes each one on with increasing confidence and skill that JCLC has helped her to achieve.

Strengthening Families

Lydia moved to the United States after having met her future husband on the internet.  When she arrived, she found herself isolated in an unfamiliar rural setting in Jefferson County.  Not long after Lydia’s arrival, her new husband began verbally, emotionally, physically, and sexually abusing her.  Knowing that she did not understand U.S. laws, he used both this and her immigration status to intimidate her, until one particular incident forced Lydia to call the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department.  She was given the PADA number, and although frightened and worried, Lydia was able to move into a shelter in a neighboring county.  Her case was accepted by the Immigrant Project of Wisconsin who agreed to represent her and work with PADA so that she could petition for legal permanent resident status independent of her husband.  Lydia held tight as the long process of gathering documents and writing a personal statement took over her life.  When the attorney was finally able to submit Lydia’s application to the immigration authorities, she held her breath.  But less than a month later, her mind was put at ease when she found out that she received a favorable first response from immigration.  Now, Lydia lives in a stable home of her own and volunteers much of her time helping the homeless in southern Wisconsin.

Matt is eight years old and was on the waiting list for a Big Brother for over a year.  He began to have problems both at home and at school with grades and fighting with others.  The case manager at Big Brothers Big Sisters suggested that Matt be matched with a Lunch Buddy in the meantime while he was waiting for a Big Brother to spend time with him.  Logan, a student at Whitewater, became Matt’s buddy and they met at Matt’s school one day a week where they ate together and talked.  Within a very short period of time, both Matt’s teacher and his mother expressed how happy they were to see the positive changes in him at school and at home.  Having lunch to look forward to each week, Matt’s entire attitude changed.  Logan would now like to become Matt’s Big Brother so they can spend time together away from school.  And one day Matt would like to become a Big Brother, just like his.

Building & Maintaining Family Financial Stability

John had been living under the Watertown bridge for several months when CAC found him.  He was provided with emergency shelter vouchers right away so that he didn’t have to live on the street a moment longer and immediately began to work with a CAC housing counselor to find more permanent housing.  John also was linked to other resources to give him a head start on a new life.  Not long after he came to CAC, John became educated in the areas of lead-based paint dangers, landlord/tenant laws, and fair housing laws and with his counselor was able to locate housing.  CAC gave John encouragement and hope along with information and connections to various Jefferson County agencies that could assist him further.  He was even able to find agencies that provided him with furniture and household items for his new apartment.  John met with a CAC case worker twice each week to learn about budgeting and goal setting, so that he was able to begin to make long-term plans.  With the tools that John received, he voluntarily left the rent subsidy program early to pursue the goals that CAC helped him to discover.

Integrating Diverse Populations

Isabel immigrated to the United States from Mexico.  She is very smart and hard-working to provide for her family, but upon arriving in the U.S. was only able to find unskilled, entry-level jobs because she was not able to communicate in English.  She was working as a short order cook in a fast food restaurant when she began attending ESL classes.  As Isabel began to learn English through the program, she also became confident enough to communicate at work and take on more responsibility.  Now she is a local store manager and she works with the public.  Because Isabel is able to communicate, she is in a decision-making role at her job.  She credits her improved position at work to her ability to now speak and write in English.  Isabel was a commencement speaker at the end of the year celebration and addressed her fellow students in English and in Spanish encouraging them to work hard in learning English.  She has, and continues to be, the inspiration that JCLC first gave her.

Building & Maintaining Family Financial Stability

Greg is a young father that was deployed to military service in Iraq.  He left behind his wife, Melissa, and their children to serve overseas.  While he was gone, their youngest became ill and was hospitalized.  Frightened and concerned, Melissa called Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES) to help her reach Greg.  She called the Red Cross directly from the hospital, but didn’t have all of the correct information for her husband’s military unit with her.  Frustrated and desperate to talk to her husband at this worrisome time, Melissa didn’t want to leave her child’s side to go home and find Greg’s contact information.  The Red Cross caseworker was able to assure her that with her husband’s full name and approximate location, they would be able to get a message to him.  Later that same afternoon, Greg called Melissa at the hospital to tell her that his travel arrangements were being made and that he would be home as soon as possible.

Before their baby was even born, Bridget and Ben knew he was in trouble.  Prenatal tests had shown that the baby’s blood type was in conflict with his mother’s.  Tests throughout her pregnancy confirmed time and again that Bridget’s own body was destroying her baby’s blood cells, and only donated blood might save him.  The Red Cross stepped in and using its network was able to locate the needed blood and get it to Bridget and the baby in time.  While Bridget and Ben live in one Wisconsin city and were treated in a second, the blood their baby needed was found in yet a third metropolitan area.  Transfusions were given in-utero, and baby Alex was born safe and healthy.  To everyone who donated their time, their skills, and their blood to save their infant son, Bridget and Ben feel the need to give back.  “It was a deep experience,” Ben says, “that people would give something so vital and give it so freely.”

Amy and Adam are a young couple with two sons, ages five and two.  After suddenly becoming unemployed, Adam began going to school to advance his qualifications and future work prospects.  Amy had already been taking classes, but cut down on credits so that she could work to provide their family with needed income.  Because of their circumstances, Amy and Adam found out that they were qualified for W-2 assistance and Community Kids scholarship aid.  The assistance helped them pay for childcare for their boys while Adam completed his classes and found another job.  It also gave Amy a chance to work more to continue to help support the family during the interim, so that later she was able to return to completing her education as well.  With the support of Community Action, Inc., Amy and Adam have been able to put their goals for their family first, and look toward a brighter future for their boys.

Katie is a young mother of three who moved with her children into a relative’s home when their living situation became dangerously violent.  Desperate for the support of her family, Katie reached out for help.  The relative welcomed her, but did not have enough space, so Katie and her children made their home on the floor.  When Katie found out about Bethel House, she knew that she had to make the best choice for her family.  Katie decided to move her and her children into Bethel House and became part of their program.  Throughout the year that they lived at Bethel House, Katie was able to establish residency, obtain child support, food stamps and WIC benefits, and state financial assistance for childcare.  She obtained a part-time job, made a church connection and reestablished ties in the community, received counseling from the Association for the Prevention of Family violence, family counseling, enrolled one of her children in a pre-school program, participated in children’s library programs, received legal advice, financial counseling, help with taxes which paid off existing credit-card debt, and established a household budget and savings plan.  She received diapers and food occasionally to help her keep her budget, emotional support, furniture items, and Christmas and Easter gifts for her children.  Katie secured affordable housing with the help of a reference from Bethel House and financial assistance with the Security Deposit.  She is currently still working at her part-time job, but hopes to go back to school to get a degree in Physical Therapy.  Greatest of all, though, Katie received hope, support, and love that have encouraged her to put herself and her children first. 

Erica is an 8-year-old girl that lives in Jefferson with her mother who is disabled. Because of the disability, her mom, Tory, has a difficult time getting around. This caused much heartache in their relationship because Tory wasn’t able to do the simple things with her daughter that she wanted to do like taking Erica to the park or out to dinner. Because of this, they grew more and more distant from each other as Erica got older and began to withdraw. That is why Tory will tell you that the match made when Erica was set up with her Big Sister, is the best thing that ever happened for each of them and their relationship. Before meeting her Big Sister, Erica had a hard time expressing herself and seemed sad most of the time. But now, her mom says that Erica is so much happier and can’t seem to stop smiling. Having such a close friend has given Erica confidence and has opened her up to trying new things. The two families have also gotten to know each other well and spend lots of time together. Erica’s teachers have also seen an improvement in her self-esteem at school. Erica’s mom, Tory, says that Erica and her Big Sister are best friends and will be forever.

2005 Success Stories | 2004 Success Stories