Clients 61 & 62: Hope Turns to Joy!
Last week, we had the privilege of stepping into the lives of two more remarkable single mothers and cheering them on as they continue their journey toward self-sufficiency. We often say this at our giveaways, but it is worth repeating here. Our car giveaways are not about celebrating OnRamp DFW. They are a celebration of our clients and the incredible work they do every day, often for months or even years before we even meet them. A reliable vehicle can be a lifeline, but it is only one part of their journey.
What’s more is when you hear them talk about their “why.” Both of these women have been taking the next step forward day-in-day-out because they know they keep the hope of for their kiddos! And so when they received those keys, it was a time for joy and celebration! With that, we are proud to introduce the two newest members of the OnRamp DFW family!
Armecia
The path out of generational poverty isn't always a straight line. Armecia, a mother of two young boys, has spent years walking this path with steadiness. As one of the original clients at Justin’s Place in Fort Worth, she has worked closely with her advocate, Jennifer, to move her family toward a place of permanent stability through mentorship, career guidance, and resources for education and training. Armecia has been working tirelessly to pursue her CDL (a difficult thing to do without a vehicle!) while also contributing to her community through her work with the school district’s bus system.
When Armecia received her beautiful 2011 Toyota Camry, she mentioned how having a reliable vehicle will allow her to give her kids the life she wants to give them! And isn’t that every parents hope?! Not only will she be able to do the things we always talk about like get to work consistently, and manage her time more efficiently, but she will get to be the mom she wants to be. The one that gets to take her family somewhere on the weekends, or out for ice cream after school. Armecia, we are proud of you and are excited to walk along side you for the next year.
Taylor
A quick look behind the scenes. Our giveaways typically take place in Richardson or Garland at 8am. This is in large part due to the schedule of our volunteers and the client’s advocate, but admittedly is pretty early for everyone. So when the client get’s to the giveaway location 30 minutes before ANYONE else on our team, you know they are ready to take those next steps.
Taylor is a single mother of 4 that somehow has more pep and energy than any parent I’ve ever met. She came to us through Yurla her advocate at Interfaith Family Services (a local partner that we have gifted multiple cars to and that we love!) where she has been receiving support and resources as she works towards stable housing. Taylor is one of those people that pairs drive with focus so well, and encourages others around her naturally.
When she and her kids saw the 2014 Toyota Sienna that they were getting, the hope that they had been grasping onto for so long turned into pure joy. When praying over her and the van, she mentioned how thankful she was to God for providing the right people at every step of the way. We were so thankful to get to be a small part of her story.
Stories and pictures shared with permission from the clients
