Stories of Hope
Ana's Story
Ana's ex-mother-in-law has custody of one of Ana's children. Her brother has custody of another child, but Ana has hope for regaining
custody of both these children.
Ana once abused alcohol and drugs. Addictions lead to her giving custody of three of her four children to different family members.
She gave birth to her fourth child while serving time in prison for drug-related offenses. The baby weighed two pounds at birth, with
under developed lungs and a series of birth defects. It was at this point, she says, that she decided that a serious life change was in order.
When Ana left prison, she swore to never look back. Today, she has been drug-free for two years. She attends weekly AA meetings to further
strengthen her resolve to become a better member of society.
She received six months of training to learn how to take care of her developmentally-challenged daughter. She is currently enrolled in
CNA (Certified Nurse Assistant) classes and, upon completion of an internship, she will become certified.
Ana's 10-year-old son is enrolled at Betances School, one of the two Hartford elementary schools where Hands On Hartford administers
Family Resource Centers. Through the Family/School Connection program, Ana has been able to monitor her son's academic progress, take
advantage of parenting workshops and volunteer at the school.
Hands On Hartford staff have referred her to other programs for support with food, health care and Section 8 housing. She is currently
trying to enroll her 2-year-old daughter in the Family Resource Center's birth-to-three program. Last year Ana's 16-year-old daughter
was provided with summer employment during the Center for Youth Summer Camp.
With Ana's initiative and a helping hand, she has been able to change the course of her life and the lives of her children. This family
now has HOPE.
Michael's Story
Michael entered Hands On Hartford’s Center for Youth after school program with many behavioral and emotional issues. He had a history of
violent outbursts and quickly exhibited those behaviors during the program. The staff immediately met with Michael's classroom teachers
as well as the school's special education support team to better understand the child's needs.
Center for Youth staff set up a special curriculum for Michael, involving tutoring and gym. He was paired with a male volunteer tutor who
is pursuing special education certification. Since then, significant improvement has been observed in Michael's anger management skills
as well as his overall interaction with his peers.
Michael was also allowed to trim his program attendance to one day a week so he can participate in an offsite therapy group. Michael
loves coming to Center for Youth, and keeping him enrolled in the program is a great motivational tool. It is changing his life and
self-image for the better.
Angel's Story
Angel has come to Hands On Hartford’s MANNA Senior Community Cafe on weekends for more than 15 years. He is frailer now than when he
first appeared. He is beginning to show signs of dementia.
When Dial-A-Ride brought him home from Senior Community Cafe recently, he claimed that it was not his house. He refused to get out of
the van. The Dial-A-Ride driver took him back to the Cafe. The Spanish-speaking staff explained to him that the van driver had really
taken him to his home. This calmed him down, and Angel agreed to let a staff member take him back home.
The program coordinator knows that Angel doesn't have much money and that he doesn't eat regularly. He is provided breakfast and lunch
on Saturdays and Sundays at the Cafe, and the staff sends him home with a big sack lunch too. That's most of what he eats all during
the week.
Staff and the other program participants at the MANNA Senior Community Cafe are family for Angel. He is fed and cared for. He trusts
the staff and cares for them.
Mary's Story
On a recent Saturday, a woman in her mid-80’s named Mary D. attended a congregate meal at Senior Community Cafe, Hands On Hartford’s weekend meal program for low-income seniors. As they do with all new program participants, the Cafe staff and volunteers made a point to get to know her and to learn her story.
She told them that she had recently been evicted from her apartment and was living out of her late-model car. After providing her with the only real meal she had eaten in two days, staff jumped into crisis mode and helped to secure a place for Mary in a women’s shelter.
Mary has since returned to the Cafe, and is well on the way to stabilizing her life, as well as developing friendships with the Cafe staff, volunteers and other patrons.
Joey's Story
Joey S. is a fourth grade student who attends Center for Youth, Hands On Hartford’s after school program at Betances Elementary School in Hartford. He lives with his single mom and five-year-old sister Samantha. His mother was recently in between jobs and was having a difficult time keeping up with bills and her family’s needs. Knowing her situation, Center for Youth staff invited Joey to participate in the Weekend Backpack Program.
Now each Friday afternoon Joey goes home from school with a backpack filled with kid-friendly food that he can prepare and share with his sister. It is nutritious food they like and that is easy to prepare: peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, crackers, microwave popcorn, juice boxes and Cheerios. On Monday mornings Joey returns the empty backpack so that volunteers can fill it up during the week and have it ready for the next weekend.
Joey is proud that he is contributing something important to his family. His mother is thrilled. She says that the Backpack Program is a “silent reminder that people care.”
Esther's Story
Esther G. is a 30 year old female who moved into Peter’s Retreat, Hands On Hartford’s supportive housing program for people living with HIV/AIDS, last September. She was diagnosed HIV+ when she was only 18 and also carries diagnoses of hepatitis B+, herpes simplex virus, asthma, depression and anxiety.
Prior to moving to Peter’s Retreat, Esther was homeless and taking meds erratically. She now takes HIV medications faithfully, and compliance is closely monitored. Her viral load now is undetectable and her T-cell count shows positive results. Her history also includes addiction, but she has been clean and sober since admission.
When she first arrived, Esther was abrasive and withdrawn. Over time she has grown to know and trust her Case Manager who has encouraged her to work with and support volunteers. Once a fearful young woman, Esther finds speaking in public about living with AIDS an easy assignment and she speaks from the heart and with conviction. She has shared her story on local cable television, and has spoken with Governor Jodie Rell pressing her to support AIDS research and funding. She beams when she speaks about these successes.
Esther willingly shares what she has learned about her life’s potential since moving to Peter’s Retreat. She enjoys saying with a big smile, "I come first!"
