Helping Families Find Their Way: Crystal’s Story

A few years ago, Crystal came to us during a particularly difficult season of her life. At the time, she felt like she had nowhere else to turn, and the people around her couldn't seem to see past their assumptions. As she put it, "Many couldn't believe that someone who looked like me could be in need."

That combination of struggling and struggling alone is one of the hardest things a person can face. It increases how vulnerable they feel and makes asking for help even more difficult.

But when Crystal reached out to Neighborhood House, she wasn't treated like a problem to solve. She was welcomed by staff who saw her potential and were eager to work with her to address the challenges she was facing.

What started as a crisis intervention became something far more transformative. Crystal began to reconnect with what was possible for her and her three kids. She found strength, renewed focus, and for the first time in a while, hope for their future.

Beyond the Immediate Need

Empowering others often starts with making sure they have food on their tables and a roof over their heads. But it doesn't stop there.

Crystal and her kids came to us when things were at their worst, but that wasn't the end of their story. As they found their footing, they began reclaiming the dreams that got pushed aside when they were at their most vulnerable.

We see this happening throughout our programs. When people feel loved and supported, everything changes. And it doesn’t matter their age. From babies to seniors, when you address the whole person — not just their immediate needs, but their long-term growth and stability — it makes an extraordinary difference.

Paying It Forward

Here's where Crystal's story takes an unexpected turn. Everything she went through — from the initial crisis to the feelings of isolation to the slow work of rebuilding her life — left her with something profound: the desire and ability to help others believe in their own possibilities.

As she wrote to us this summer: "God has blessed us with a small token, and we are honored to pay it forward to help others in need."

That's the kind of change you make possible when you support Neighborhood House. Not just helping families through a crisis, but working with them long enough that they become the ones reaching back to help someone else.

Your Part in This Work

For 98 years, we've been walking with our neighbors through the highs and lows of life. That work has never been more important than it is right now.

As more families face uncertainty — stretched household budgets, reduced benefits, fewer places to turn — Neighborhood House is committed to making sure they don’t lose ground. But we can’t do it without your help.

Before 2025 comes to an end, will you help ensure that when our neighbors face their most difficult moments, they’ll find what Crystal found — a supportive community that refuses to give up on them?