In two years, everything has changed for woman

Two years ago, Maria, whose life had taken a nose dive, was interviewed for an Empty Stocking Fund story. She was depressed, alone, a school dropout — a 42-year-old unemployed single mother from the Bronx with nowhere to go.

The Salvation Army’s New Hope Center had offered her a new start and a temporary place to live.

It was the beginning of Maria’s new life.

Only Maria’s first name is being used in this article to protect her privacy.

“There were a few dips, but everything just keeps getting better,” she said, crediting, among others, Josie Rodriguez of the Pikes Peak Community Action Agency’s Billie Spielman Center. Rodriguez helped Maria get her electricity turned on, receive vouchers for food, get glasses and visit the clothes closet.

Best of all, she said, “Josie always listened to me. She still does. I got sick and was out of work. I wanted to go back to school because I needed new skills and I was empty inside. Josie helped me figure out what I wanted to do and how to do it.”

Pikes Peak Community Action Agency is one of 14 local charities that receives donations from The Gazette/El Pomar Foundation Empty Stocking Fund.

Maria became involved in the agency’s Transitions to Independence program, will earn her GED in May and is in a computer class.

Last December she got a call from Partners in Housing accepting her into the Colorado House Resource Center, a transitional living facility where homeless families learn the skills required to become self-sufficient. Today, Maria is the resident manager.

“You’re still labeled homeless but you have a home, you work, you make payments, you take classes,” she said. For the first time ever, Maria said, when she’s out walking and sees houses for sale it feels good to even think she might own one someday. “There’s a domino effect in life, but all my dominoes are standing up.”

Maria is aiming at a career working with the elderly after she becomes a certified nurse assistant. “For the first time, I visualize my future.”

When her whole outlook on life changed, it changed the life of Maria’s 7-year-old son as well. “Before I got into the program my son was doing bad in school. My life was impacting his life. He was going to be held back in school. My life changed, and my son’s life changed. Thirty days later he had received an award for reading.”

They couldn’t wait to share the news with Josie.

“I’m happy now and so is my son. I wake up happy. I thank the Lord every day. My son says, ‘Ma, we’ve got a great life!’”

Maria’s certain she’s going to “break the social service chain. I am going to break it. I didn’t wait for the world to change, when I changed the world changed for me. Sometimes you can control what is happening to you.”

Then Maria threw out a challenge to herself: “That’s my story so far, but I want you to call me next year. It’s going to be even better.”

DETAILS

If you would like to make a taxdeductible contribution to The Gazette-El Pomar Foundation Empty Stocking Fund, send a check payable to Empty Stocking Fund to P.O. Box 400, Colorado Springs, CO 80901. Donate online at gazette.com or www.coloradosprings.com. and click on the Empty Stocking Fund link. Credit card or stock donations can also be made by phone, 476-1673. Donations to the Empty Stocking Fund will be accepted until Jan. 18, 2008.