A Story About A F
"I’ve never worked with a harder-working or more delightful family than the Lopezes.”
Names have been changed and identifying details omitted for the family's privacy.
The Lopez family, consisting of Mateo, Sofia, and their three children, arrived at our shelter on September 18, 2024.
Before coming to us, Mateo had lost his job due to a workplace injury, which caused the family to lose their apartment. For several months, all five of them lived in their car. Despite these hardships, Mateo and Sofia made extraordinary sacrifices, such as donating plasma whenever possible, to ensure their children had food, gas, and the chance to continue their education.
The Lopez family faced numerous challenges. Sofia was not fluent in English, and Mateo’s injury severely limited his physical abilities. Nevertheless, they entered the shelter with unwavering determination and met with our staff immediately to begin rebuilding their lives. From the outset, they set an ambitious goal: to secure housing within two months, well ahead of the 90-day program timeline.
Throughout their stay, the family’s enthusiasm was inspiring. Mateo and Sofia eagerly volunteered for shelter chores and went out of their way to assist staff, often saying they wanted to give back for the support they were receiving. Their hard work and positive attitude quickly stood out—they even won the shelter’s incentive rewards program twice.
Within the first week, Mateo found employment at a local food processing company. Despite financial constraints, he continued donating plasma to cover gas for his commute until his first paycheck. Together with our team, the Lopez family restored their health insurance and driver’s licenses within the first few weeks. They saved nearly every dollar of Mateo’s earnings, determined to achieve their housing goal.
Their dedication paid off sooner than expected. Just shy of their first month, the Lopez family received a call from a landlord offering them a place to live. On October 14, 2024, they signed a lease and moved into their new home, far surpassing their original two-month goal.
On their way out, we gathered household essentials for them to take to their new place. Tears were shed, hugs were exchanged, and the Lopez family expressed their gratitude as they stepped into the next chapter of their lives.
“I try not to pick favorites,” said Dominic, one of our team members, “but I can honestly say I’ve never worked with a harder-working or more delightful family than the Lopezes.”
The Lopez family, consisting of Mateo, Sofia, and their three children, arrived at our shelter on September 18, 2024.
Before coming to us, Mateo had lost his job due to a workplace injury, which caused the family to lose their apartment. For several months, all five of them lived in their car. Despite these hardships, Mateo and Sofia made extraordinary sacrifices, such as donating plasma whenever possible, to ensure their children had food, gas, and the chance to continue their education.
The Lopez family faced numerous challenges. Sofia was not fluent in English, and Mateo’s injury severely limited his physical abilities. Nevertheless, they entered the shelter with unwavering determination and met with our staff immediately to begin rebuilding their lives. From the outset, they set an ambitious goal: to secure housing within two months, well ahead of the 90-day program timeline.
Throughout their stay, the family’s enthusiasm was inspiring. Mateo and Sofia eagerly volunteered for shelter chores and went out of their way to assist staff, often saying they wanted to give back for the support they were receiving. Their hard work and positive attitude quickly stood out—they even won the shelter’s incentive rewards program twice.
Within the first week, Mateo found employment at a local food processing company. Despite financial constraints, he continued donating plasma to cover gas for his commute until his first paycheck. Together with our team, the Lopez family restored their health insurance and driver’s licenses within the first few weeks. They saved nearly every dollar of Mateo’s earnings, determined to achieve their housing goal.
Their dedication paid off sooner than expected. Just shy of their first month, the Lopez family received a call from a landlord offering them a place to live. On October 14, 2024, they signed a lease and moved into their new home, far surpassing their original two-month goal.
On their way out, we gathered household essentials for them to take to their new place. Tears were shed, hugs were exchanged, and the Lopez family expressed their gratitude as they stepped into the next chapter of their lives.
“I try not to pick favorites,” said Dominic, one of our team members, “but I can honestly say I’ve never worked with a harder-working or more delightful family than the Lopezes.”
Lead with your heart by helping your neighbors who need it the most!