Janet Finds Her Strength

Janet always wanted the best for her family. When her mother’s health began to decline, Janet put her own life on hold. She gave up her job and moved in with her mother so that she could care for her full-time. “I was doing nothing for myself,” she recalls. It was physically exhausting and mentally draining.

When her mother passed away last year, it took a heavy emotional toll on Janet. “I thought she would live to be one hundred. I always thought she would outlive me.” Now that her mother was gone, she didn’t know what to do with herself. She had spent the past several years caring for her. The loss was so traumatic that she could barely focus on anything, let alone her next steps in life.

Unfortunately, she did not have time to process the grief. She was told by her mother’s housing facility that she had fourteen days to vacate the apartment.  Amid the difficult loss of her mother, Janet was about to be homeless. She began to panic. Luckily, one of her mother’s neighbors recommended she look into Calvary Women’s Services. Janet decided to give Calvary a try.

At Calvary, she found the necessary space and support to begin healing. At the advice of her case manager, she routinely met with Calvary’s licensed on-site therapist. The therapist helped her navigate the grieving process and come to peace with her mother’s passing.

As Janet healed, she took advantage of Calvary’s education programs. “I learned so much so quickly.” For the first time in her life, she learned how to save money through a course on personal finance. She also learned about healthy eating habits, particularly the importance of vegetables. “I wasn’t eating vegetables like I was supposed to be. Now I’m in love with vegetables!” Thanks to the meals served at Calvary, Janet had daily access to healthy foods with plenty of vegetables.

After finding the tools she needed to manage the grief of her mother’s death, Janet is feeling optimistic again. “I finally feel like ‘Yes there is a tomorrow.’ ” Thanks to Calvary’s job placement program, she was able to find a new job – and a steady source of income.

Last month Janet moved out of Calvary into an apartment of her own. After finding so much strength from Calvary’s supportive community, she is sad to leave. She knows, however, that it’s time to move on: “I know I have to continue on to the next step. As much as I love it here, this is not a forever spot.” Before coming to Calvary, Janet was not in a place to consider the next steps. Now, she sees her life as full of possibilities.