Brenda's Path to Stability

In her words - Brenda shares her story of crisis, and the impact New Reach had on her family at a time of crisis:

"I was a manager at Dunkin Donuts in April 2021. I got an emergency phone call from my husband stating that he was in the hospital [with COVID-19]. He took a turn for the worse... and had to be put on life support. [Soon after, he passed away].

We were going through the motions of planning his funeral, and I got an eviction notice under my door. We were in debt over $10,000. I was not aware of that. [My husband's name] was on everything.

I didn't know what to do because I'd never gone through that process before. And then things got even worse. My daughter was assaulted. And I basically was not in my right state of mind.

I’m hurt. I’m sad. I’m mad. I’m confused. I wanted to give up. I wanted to jump off of a building at that moment.

Is this really happening to me?

[I learned about]...New Reach, and that they wanted to help me. And they embraced me.

I thank God for them because they were there for me mentally, physically, emotionally. They helped me pay off my debt. They helped me find other programs that would help me.

Right now, I am working two jobs and I see a tunnel - and I see the light down there. It's very very far, but I see it, so I know that it's there. I know that I'm on a path to success. I may not be there exactly yet, but I'm on my way.

It just felt good to have somebody have my back, and to talk for me when I couldn't talk for myself.

I thank God that he put them in my life to help me. I'm just very grateful for that. Because who's to say where I would be right now."