Home for the Holidays - Marin County
Family #1
Talia was referred to us by North Marin Community Services. She was born in El Salvador and spent her entire early life living in fear of the violence surrounding her. Her family was finally able to escape and come to the United States.
Unfortunately, much of her family was deported back to El Salvador. With no family support, Talia became very depressed and was hospitalized for an extended period of time. Her youngest child was able to live with her husband, but her older children were placed in foster care. She survived being in a coma while hospitalized and is now working to regain her strength.
Talia loves to cook and borrowed a large pot to make nourishing soups for her children.
When we first visited her, the family had only a small Christmas tree and a borrowed chair and table. She and her children were looking forward to being together and celebrating Christmas in a new comfortable home thanks to the miracle of wonderful Welcoming Home donors.
The day after we finished, we got these heartfelt messages from Talia and her family ...
From Talia ... Thank you for your help, for making me so happy, for my living room, my bedroom, and those of my kids, for the bedding, the towels, for everything. God bless you always, merry Christmas - these are our wishes
From her son ... “Thank you for everything you guys did for us and thank you for making my and my little brother’s room so good. Thank you.”
From her 13-year-old daughter ... “As I was growing up I didn't have my own space or my own bed or room but now I have my own room and am thankful for everything. Thank you guys for the bed, the desk and everything I really appreciate it.”
Family #2
North Marin Community Services also referred Elena to us. Elena’s life changed dramatically three years ago when her foot was seriously injured in a family incident. She sought shelter with her two boys in transitional housing for a while but had to leave when her time there ran out. They lived in a car for a few months, then were accepted into another transitional housing facility.
Elena desperately wanted to work so that she could support her sons, but the pain in her leg made it impossible. Then she got Covid. She said she couldn’t breathe and was petrified that she would not be able to care for her sons and that they would be taken away from her. Thankfully, she recovered. But her leg and foot continued to cause her excruciating pain.
After two surgeries, she still takes pain pills daily so that she can continue the work she was able to get as a caregiver. The surgeries did not cure her condition, but at least they stopped the condition from getting worse.
Through the help of North Marin Community Services, Elena was finally able to find an apartment. She wants to take on more work, even though it’s tough going with her health situation. She dreams of sending her sons to university so that they will have an easier life than she has had.
Our volunteers and movers braved torrential rain as they worked to move furniture and other items into the family’s apartment. As you can see from the pictures, though, all pieces made it safely and dryly into their new home.
The boys were excited to see their bunk beds when they returned. And Elena was so grateful and happy “I cannot thank you enough for what you have done for my sons and me,” she said. “I feel so much better about our future.”