OUT OF OPTIONS: Maria’s Story
When Maria and her daughter experienced a series of setbacks, you helped them get back on their feet and find new hope.
It’s hard to have hope when you’re in desperate need and believe you’ve run out of options. But that’s where Maria and her 8-year-old daughter, Marcela, found themselves in November 2020.
“I was desperate, hopeless, not sure what to do,”
She was very sick with COVID-19. Her infection was so severe, she was hospitalized in intensive care for two weeks. As the illness ran its course, she completely lost her eyesight. Worst of all, while Maria was laid up, her fiancé passed away from the virus.
When she was finally released from the hospital, Maria faced the new challenge of being a single mom. What’s more, she was unable to go back to her job as a chef at a local restaurant. With her damaged vision, she had to stop working.
Then came the final blow: her beloved brother, her last living blood relative, also died of COVID. She and her daughter were truly alone. They had no one left to turn to.”
Out of options? Maybe not . . .
But then Maria found out about Metropolitan Ministries. “Metro took me in, which every day I’m so thankful for,” she says. “As I came in here, they gave me time to recuperate. My eyesight is slowly coming back, and I got my job back at the restaurant.”
Maria and Marcela have been blessed to have a roof over their heads, food to eat, and an incredible variety of support services that have enabled them to regain their stability and make plans for the future. Every day at Metro, this little family is working hard to put their lives back together.
At this point, Maria is taking it one day at a time. “I’m just trying to figure out the next steps. That’s the biggest hurdle.”
“So much support”
“Metropolitan Ministries offers so much support,” Maria says. “Every day I wake up and I pray, ‘I’m so happy to be alive but also to have that network of support.’”
Having been so blessed by her experience at Metro — and knowing Easter is ahead — Maria has an encouragement for you and other Metro partners:
“If you have anything to spare, please consider donating to Metropolitan Ministries.”
When you give today to provide food, safe shelter, restorative services, and more, our special Easter Matching Grant will immediately DOUBLE your gift. You’ll help TWICE as many struggling families like Maria and her daughter find a brighter future. Thank you!