Home 1
Carly, a warm and resilient senior citizen, lives in Home 1; she was referred to us by North Marin Community Services.
Carly has experienced tremendous loss in her life but remains positive and is uplifted by the support of everyone around her.
Carly worked in the grocery industry for many years, resulting in hip and back injuries that made it impossible to continue in this line of work. She next went to work as a school bus driver. Unfortunately, when the schools were closed due to the Covid pandemic, she lost this job.
Carly then suffered the most devastating loss: the death of her husband. Through all of these losses, Carly relied on her love of cooking and baking to support her through her grief.
While Carly was coping with her husband’s death, the unimaginable happened - an electrical fire in her home that led to the loss of all her personal possessions and housing. Completely devastated, she moved in with her adult children.
With support from the community, Carly is now living in a small apartment and is extremely grateful for the encouragement and support she is receiving. She especially appreciates the generous donations including everything she needs to resume her love of cooking and baking!
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Overwhelmed with gratitude and emotion is the best way to describe Carly’s reaction when she walked into her newly furnished apartment. She carefully noticed, touched, and reacted to each piece of furniture and decorative item with tearful appreciation.
When we were getting to know Carly, she shared that she loves to cook and bake, so she was all smiles and tears when she saw the appliances, cookware, cookbooks, and other kitchen items that will help her establish her own sense of creativity and independence.
Carly’s repeated expressions of sincere thankfulness for the volunteers and donors who made her apartment a home were beyond heartwarming.
Home 2
Joshua was referred to us by North Marin Community Services. He is a testament to strength and resilience, given the trauma he and his family have been through. The domestic violence in his home was so severe that, tragically, his mother did not survive; his father was sent prison.
Thus, at the age of six, he and his siblings went into the foster care system. Luckily, with the vigilance of both his Godmother and his mother’s best friend (who moved her family to Marin), Joshua graduated from high school.
Life has continued to be difficult for Joshua. His brother died in a car accident just over a year ago; they were very close and he has struggled with this loss.
Joshua is employed full time and is very excited about the prospect that his four children will now be able to visit him more regularly on weekends since he will have his own home. He said it felt 'surreal' learning that Welcoming Home would come into his bare apartment and turn it into a home. He was really excited and wanted to surprise his children with the transformation.
Welcoming Home volunteers, too, were excited to transform his home with our donors' generous items.
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When Joshua opened the door to his newly furnished apartment, he appeared totally stunned. His two sons were with him, and since the transformation had been kept a surprise for them, they were wide eyed with amazement!
What had previously been an empty apartment was now a comfortable home with brand new thermal curtains covering the windows and warm rugs on the floor. A cozy sectional and large dining table meant that now the family could relax together.
As the volunteers showed the boys their new books, sleeping bags and gifts, their Dad could only stand in the middle of his new home, speechless. Hugging the volunteers, he finally whispered “I can’t believe that this is real, and that someone would do this for me!”
Home 3
Kristen was referred to us by the Marin Health and Human Services Odyssey Team.
Kristen was born and raised in Marin, where she was a gifted swimmer, eventually competing at the collegiate level. But after college she fell on hard times and became estranged from her family. She found herself homeless a few years ago and has lived in a shelter ever since.
Kristen wanted a better life for herself and finally was able to find her new home. This will be the first time Kristen has lived on her own and she could not be happier.
She loves all animals, especially her dog "Lucky." She is an avid swimming and sports fan, enjoys spending time outdoors, and has a newfound passion for healing crystals. She was looking forward to the Welcoming Home move-in day when she would finally have a furnished home.
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Kristin was thrilled with her "new" home. "It's so nice; it's perfect!," she said. Her dog ran directly to his new bed to try it out; he evidently approved!
All the special touches provided by our generous donors and volunteers made the space a cozy and warm home.
Home 4
Sam was referred to us by the Marin Health and Human Services Odyssey Team.
Sam has not had a place of his own since he was a young man. He has been in and out of shelters and, at times, living on the street. He has struggled with his but is now looking forward to finally having a place that he can call his own.
Sam is interested in Martial Arts and hopes to teach. Also, he enjoys working with others at Jonathon’s House, the last shelter where he resided. He has a big heart and really wants to give back to the community.
Sam was especially looking forward to getting together with friends in his newly furnished apartment!
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Sam, so pleased with his home, said “You guys are the real deal. Magical healers."
He wrote to our volunteers a coupe of days after the Welcoming, "Allison, you and your team have done the kindest and most practical thing anyone has done for me in a long time. I am getting non-stop compliments from my friends and I'm happy to tell them about Welcoming Home!"
We, too, are so grateful to have the opportunity to help provide a real “home” for people in our community.
