“It was a struggle, but I was determined.” – Amanda’s Story

DETERMINED TO CHANGE

Fleeing abuse, Amanda and her kids had nowhere to go. You gave her a refuge and resources to get back on her feet and reach her goals!

Amanda was all too familiar with disappointment and abuse. She grew up in a broken home and had no choice but to care for herself from the age of 16 on. Despite her shaky upbringing, Amanda looked ahead to a bright future. She dreamed of becoming a nurse and was well on her way to accomplishing that goal. But then, an abusive relationship changed everything. Amanda’s boyfriend made life a nightmare for her and her three children. They were trapped.

After getting a restraining order on her boyfriend, Amanda lived temporarily with her kids at her dad’s house. Unfortunately, that situation didn’t last long.

“I ended up back in the same relationship,” says Amanda. She found herself stuck in familiar territory.

Her dream of becoming a nurse felt like it was drifting further away. This was not the life Amanda wanted for her kids. She realized she needed to put her foot down.

“I finally decided I had enough of the abuse and did not want my children raised thinking it was okay,” she says. Amanda and her kids made their escape. With nowhere else to go, the family found their way to Metro Ministries.

WORTH THE STRUGGLE

When Amanda and her kids arrived, she was already a full-time student. On top of that, she worked weekend shifts. While balancing work, school, and being a mom and getting back on her feet was hard, Amanda persevered. “It was a struggle, but I was determined to make this change for my kids,” Amanda says.

The obstacles didn’t stop her from wanting a better life. Her children were the biggest motivating factors she needed to push through. When Amanda finally graduated and became a registered nurse, she knew the struggles were worth it.

ACHIEVING GOALS — THANKS TO YOU

Now, Amanda works full time. Her next goal is to save and purchase a home so she can truly be self-sufficient. You’re the reason she was able to turn her life around.

“I would not have made it this far without Metro, and I say that wholeheartedly,” says Amanda. “The staff here have been so supportive of my children and me. I could never thank them enough.”

So many other single moms in the Tampa Bay area are fleeing abuse and have nowhere to go. You canhelp them find safety, stability, and purpose — just like you did for Amanda!

Thank you!