Catholic Charities Diocese of Wichita KS Sponsor A Family

A Family Story:

Stephanie and Darren had their problems, but they took care of their family only needing occasional help. They had the support of family and never thought they would need a shelter.

Then in 2008, Darren was laid off. With the economy of their Georgia community struggling, Stephanie’s uncle looked into a job for Darren in Wichita. Unsure where else to turn, the family sold all of their furnishings – except their washer and dryer – and moved. But the promised job didn’t pan out. The harsh economic conditions had begun to affect the Wichita economy, as well. The family had moved half way across the country for work and now that work was not there.

Family relationships became strained as the family of five looked for work doing any odd jobs they could find. When the situation became too much, Stephanie knew they had to leave the home of relatives who had welcomed them. They had nowhere to turn and no resources to make it on their own. They called St. Anthony Family Shelter and in a few days, the shelter had room for the family.

Stephanie had seen the shelters in Georgia with cots along the walls and that is what she fully expected. When she went for help at the local SRS office, she learned about St. Anthony Family Shelter and that it was different — it is for families. She found a place that was nice and inviting, a place they could be for a time – with privacy for their family. She described how they spent more time together as a family because they had to eat together — something they didn’t do before. They would eat in front of the TV and Darren would eat late when he got home.

Darren was working a painting job when they arrived and continued to look for work, but local companies would not accept his Georgia CDL. The family saved every dime they received from the odd jobs and the shelter staff helped Darren order a copy of his birth certificate so he could get a Kansas CDL. Then Darren got a break. A local company said that his Georgia CDL would be fine and they hired him. Again, they saved.

While in the shelter, the couple enjoyed the parenting class where the two of them spent time together, and the credit counseling class was helpful to the family. The children really liked the foster grandparents who were there for them, and they loved the bunk beds and have asked to have some in their new home. Ashley, age five, was connected to resources for the vision impaired through the local schools. Ashley had come to rely on her younger brother Dyllan for help getting around, but the school offered more. She began to learn Braille and how to use a walking stick, and made friends with other children who are visually impaired like her.

As Darren earned money and the family looked for a home, one landlord turned them down because they were in a shelter. Then Stephanie found a wonderful duplex and landlord. The family has done well, but admits that the stress caused issues for them. Stephanie had nearly left Darren to go back home to her family that she loved and missed.

After leaving the shelter and working through her anxieties, Stephanie found a community that has embraced her and her family. Cessna Elementary rallied around the family, and one of the teachers led an effort to get them some furnishings – beds, table and chairs, and a sofa. Stephanie admits they slept on the floor the first nights because they were so excited to get a home, it didn’t seem to matter.

After struggling for months and moving across the country, only to then end up in a worse situation than they had left, Stephanie and Darren didn’t have much hope. But through your contributions and the help of Catholic Charities St. Anthony Family Shelter, the family is doing well and has stayed together through difficult times.

“My kids have it better now than they ever had it,” said Stephanie.

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