Donna’s Story of Tenacity
Married for 16 years, Donna was ill-prepared for the sudden and devastating breakup of her family. In a small span of time, she had lost it all: her house, her marriage, her kids, her money, her identity. In six short
months, she had gone from homeowner to homeless. She went from Cub Scout leader to not even knowing where her kids were -- and on top of that, her identity was stolen, causing her years of frustration and loss.
Out of money and growing tired of the fight, Donna visited United Way-funded partner Human Service Programs (HSP) of Carroll County and began a path of stability and healing. She was determined to get her kids back into the safe protection her arms alone could provide. She would have a long wait. Knowing this, she knew she needed to start over and began taking steps that would be beneficial to her and her kids in the future.
Homeless and armed only with her laptop, Donna did a most curious thing. She went back to school. After years of legal battles, Donna’s passion began to grow in the area of law and she dreamed of one day helping others in her situation maneuver through the sea of court filings and the complexities of legalese.
Being a homeless student at the age of 50 was not easy by any stretch of the imagination. Add on top of that the depression and anxiety she experienced by not being with the children she loved, and mix in a severe learning disability. Donna is dyslexic and must read everything upside down in order for her brain to even make sense of it.
Years of sleeping on park benches and in doorways had taken a toll on her mind and body. Cold weather was setting in, and for the first time she was asking for help. From the day she first came to HSP, it would take her four more years to accept a place in the shelter. She didn’t want to take the bed from someone who needed it more.
Gradually, she became more involved in some of the programs HSP offered. She wasn’t just a client—she became a volunteer. The days in the shelter were good ones. It felt like a home there, and it nurtured her spirit during her darkest days. Staff would help her review her papers and keep her on track with her studies. And soon, Donna was eligible for housing of her own.
“Without the support of United Way, programs like HSP wouldn’t have been there for me to provide all that they do,” says Donna.
With the help of United Way partners, people like Donna are getting the footing they need to pick up the pieces of their lives. Donna has since reunited with her two children and will soon add the title of college graduate to her resume. Donna gathered momentum with United Way and looks forward to sharing her life lessons with others.
Your gift to United Way of Central Maryland will help create happy endings for more people like Donna.
HSP of Carroll County is managed by Cynthia Parr, Executive Director, and is one of more than 100 partners of UWCM.
Donna's story is one of hundreds that happen at HSP of Carroll County each year.
