Happy 2022 H.O.M.E. Family!

I’d be remiss, if I fail to begin, without covering each of you in prayer: ‘May God’s amazing grace, good health, and generous blessings rest upon you and your family throughout the new year.’  Amen.

Earlier this month, while applying for a financial grant for H.O.M.E., an interesting and deeply personal question was posed: “Why did you decide to work on this social problem?”  As I pondered that which constitute the word, ‘problem’ it awakened within me the response penned below…

“When I think about how many struggling single mothers who we’ll never get the chance to know, meet, help, share their story, relate to their hardship—my heart bleeds.  For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to 'acts of kindness' even as a child.  To witness hurting people in the world has always been my call-to-action.  I'm that person who pays for senior citizen's food in the grocery store; give generously to the neighborhood children (my sugar babies), as they exit the school bus, then rush to our house to grab an afternoon snack; purchase shoes and socks for homeless men; give an unexpected lift to stranded sister; and welcome a perfect stranger, a single dad with his three young sons, into our home for three months until he was able to get back on his feet.  You see, I often don't consider anything a 'social problem' as much as I see it as a 'social opportunity' to help someone along life's way.  Love is an interesting thing.  Why?  Because it's not produced nor perfected by words--only what we do in action or deed can adequately express its true form and meaning.  I believe that's the very thing we lack most in the world—genuine love.  It’s the antidote to curing many of life’s most serious social dilemmas.  Mother Teresa so poignantly said: 'the greatest poverty is not a lack for food, but the feeling of being unloved and unwanted.' So it is through the mirror of God’s love that I see common issues that should hunt us all, and resolve to do what I can, to change what I see.”

And this is the message I kindly offer to each of us—for yes, in heart, I am that person—but, in humanity, so are you.

As always… lovingly and graciously yours,
 

Carolyn A. Watson

 

BABES R BLESSED

Hats off to ALL who purchased one, two, three or more twin mattress sets for our precious children over the past few months.  Our Beds-4-Babes project was a HUGE success!  We requested—you responded—and the results are… many blessings of beds!  

Pearl of the Quarter

A true ‘Georgia Peach’ best describes 41-year-old, Crystal Fuller, who grew up surrounded by a supportive community of family and friends.  Raised by her mother and father, Crystal learned from an early age the power of love, spirituality and closeness.  “I had a tight family with good values which gave me a strong foundation,” she recalls.  However, after her parents divorced when she was seven; followed by the passing of her father at age ten; and the burial of her grandmother at age fourteen, life took a devastating turn.  The stable home she once knew and loved was broken—this caused Crystal to spiral into an emotional series of events that led to years of feeling unworthy and unloved.  “My mother took good care of us and we wanted for nothing; but she wasn’t affectionate,” Crystal remembered. “My Big Mama (she affectionately called her), treated me like I was her daughter, and what I didn’t get from my mom, I got from my grandma.”

While Crystal’s mother and stepfather were a great influence and support system, her broken heart wouldn’t allow her to see past her own pain. By the time she was 15, she became pregnant with her first child.  “I was a good student, but had low self-esteem; I didn’t graduate high school because I faced so many obstacles.”  Subsequently, Crystal dropped out, and by age 19 illegal drugs became her medication of choice.  Over the next decade she fought through a failed marriage; struggled to raise five children; a heavy drug addiction; a list of legal troubles; a three-time prison sentence; and she was hospitalized six times.  Through it all, Crystal stayed in close contact with her children, but didn’t want them to see her in a condition she tried so desperately to beat.

“Those times in prison helped me to see what I wanted for my life,” she thought back.  “When I was released in 2018 I knew I had to pray for courage; I had to humble myself—I asked God: ‘I want to draw closer to You, clean me up, I’m nothing without You’.”  God, indeed, heard Crystal’s humbled cry and answered.  She moved out of her old environment and into a room where she could focus on betterment of life.  Crystal gives God all the glory, and also credits her parents and children, (Dominique (25), Demario (19), Michael (18), Carmen (16), and Camille (15), for her sobriety and accomplishments.  Today, she has obtained her GED, secured a job, an apartment, regained custody of her son and daughter, enrolled into college, and graduated with a degree in business in 2021.     

“My children are what kept me going… they needed me and I needed them,” she confessed.  After meeting Crystal and learning of her story we couldn’t wait for H.O.M.E. to help.  To sum it all up Crystal concluded: “It was everything to have furniture because it added value to my home, family and all the hard work I put in.  I’m inspired and motivated to show appreciation for what God has fulfilled.  I cherish this blessing because it was a gift, given out of love, which has increased my love and faith—this is what H.O.M.E. did for me.”     

On Behalf of
The H.O.M.E. Team
Congratulations 
Crystal Fuller
for Being Our Pearl of the Quarter