"My name is Limarry. I am 20 years old. I have one child who is almost 3 years old. Before going to Gentle Arms, I lived with my mom until I had to leave. My mom used drugs which led to her getting evicted. I then moved in with my cousin. That didn?t work out and I found myself homeless with my son. DTA put me in a Teen Living Program. I stayed there for only 9 days. I left that program because it was bad. I felt like I was in a jail cell. The house was really dirty and scary looking.
After bouncing around with my son and having no place to live, I learned about Gentle Arms from my DTA worker. I agreed to go.
When I got to Gentle Arms the staff was different. They were nice to me. They were helpful and encouraged me to do the right thing.
The program was clean and well cared for. It was different than the last program I was in. Once I got settled, the staff referred me to lots of things. Before I knew it, I was back into school and my son was in daycare. Early intervention was involved. I was in counseling, meeting with a young parent support worker, attending parenting classes and learning life skills.
The staff treated me like I was one of their kids. When nobody else cared, Gentle Arms cared. They supported and encouraged me everyday.
When there was a question that I may have cancer and needed surgery to have a lump removed, I asked my mother to go with me. She decided to go to Six Flags instead. Sue (the director of Gentle Arms) didn?t let me go alone. She came with me and supported me when I was scared. She never left my side.
Being at Gentle Arms has changed me. Gentle Arms has taught me to be a good mother. They taught me about the responsibility of being a good parent, of being consistent and disciplining my son appropriately.
Gentle Arms taught me to be independent and helped me as I moved into my apartment. They supported me and encouraged me when I was afraid to be on my own. They helped get things for my apartment and to move.
Gentle Arms continues to support me now that I am on my own. They encourage me to go to school and help me fulfill my community service hours so that my son can go to daycare.
The Salvation Army has taught me a lot and has been there for me. I now know that they do it because they care, not just to get a paycheck."