Estelle and her children fled a crisis . . . only to face a hurricane.
You Gave Her a Clear Path Out
“I’m just going to take a leap of faith,” Estelle said to herself. The young mother of two was forced to make a desperate choice: pack her children’s bags and leave an abusive relationship or stay where she had food and a roof over her head.
Estelle took the risk. She couldn’t afford not to. The mother thought she was escaping. But instead of feeling free, she still felt trapped — because a week after she fled everything familiar, Hurricane Milton hit. The family was stranded. Panicking and thinking about returning to the danger she’d left behind, Estelle reached out to local resources.
That’s when she found Metro Ministries.
More Than Shelter
Estelle remembers arriving at Metro, thinking, We’re about to be in a shelter. She pictured a room packed with people and a run-down communal bathroom — just a temporary place to camp out. But her fears disappeared almost immediately. “From the time I walked in here, it was all about, ‘What can we do to help you better yourself or better you and your family?’” she says. “And so it’s just been like that from day one.”
What surprised Estelle wasn’t just the shelter or the scripture on the walls, but the genuine care from people who saw her, not just her crisis. “They actually care,” she explains. “The staff, they actually have pure hearts and a passion behind their job.” Estelle found an environment that felt like family, a place that restored her hope. “I came in feeling depleted. But I can leave now feeling fulfilled, encouraged, and motivated,” she says.
Because of your support, Estelle wasn’t just given a roof — she was given an exit plan.
“I’ve never been in a situation like this in my life . . .”
At Metro, she was immediately connected with our education department. In just three months, she earned her high school diploma. Today, she’s on
track to graduate from Metro’s culinary program and is already planning her next steps. Estelle’s goal is to become an entrepreneur and start her own organization. “I want to be able to help other mothers and other families the way Metro has helped me,” she says.
Because you give, Estelle and her children are safe, stable, and looking forward to a future she’s building herself.