From Determination to Triumph: The Journey of CLC Students at OURM
The Career Learning Center (CLC) at the Orlando Union Rescue Mission has become a beacon of hope and transformation for adult residents pursuing their educational goals. Through personalized learning paths, students progress at their own pace in a supportive, faith-centered environment. One standout feature recently introduced is the “Student of the Month” competition. Jessica Evans, […]
A New Map for His Life – Aaron’s Story
Aaron Halley entered the Mission in 2021. Before that, he had moved to Florida to care for his mother, who died, and Aaron lost his job due to Covid. He began sleeping on the streets, was hospitalized for an extended period, and started using alcohol and drugs to dull the hopelessness that consumed him. A […]
Finding Joy – Trae’s Story
“I find joy in cooking,” says Trae Lee with a broad grin on his face. The men at Project Hope appreciated his delight because while he was in culinary school, they got to enjoy the delicious meals Trae prepared for them every day. Trae’s career in construction in Detroit ended during the Covid pandemic, and […]
The Face of Grace – Success Story: Cody Sims
The Meaning of Home – Success Story: Calesha’s Story
Life Changer: Natalie’s Story
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Natalie and her son are thriving at the Mission, surrounded by friends, and growing spiritually. But it wasn’t always that way. She and her son fled an abusive relationship with her son’s father in New York to come to Florida, seeking shelter with her mother and brother. With her tax refund in hand, Natalie […]
Home, At Last: Angel’s Story
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] For years, Angel barely scraped by as a single mom of four, relying on governmental rent assistance. While she was unsure of how to best help her special needs daughter adjust to adulthood and dreamed of home ownership, she was content. Life felt stagnant but steady. Then, her landlord delivered some startling news. He […]
A Life Restored: Chris’s Story
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Chris Brooks’s transformation from a carefree church kid to a lawbreaker who attacked a police car didn’t happen overnight. It was a painful journey of bad choices, and the catalyst of many of these choices was his use of alcohol, beginning in high school. As a teenager, Chris prided himself on being the guy […]
Never Alone Again: Eboney’s Story
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] “You have to find a way. You have to find a way. You have to find a way.” This mantra defined Eboney’s perspective of the world. Survival was imperative, and it was up to her and her alone. She hadn’t always felt this way. In early 2020, she was pregnant with her first child, […]
A Reason to Hope: Lemoris’s Story
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Lemoris’s life unwound rapidly and relentlessly, but despite his circumstance, hope and gratitude never left his side. It began when Lemoris’s son, Camden, failed to return after a weekend away with Camden’s mother. Six months of frantic searching passed before Lemoris found six-year-old Camden, and the Department of Children & Families granted him emergency […]