Gifts Of The Season: Two Stories From Fort Collins Rescue Mission

“So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” ROMANS 12:5 (ESV)

Keely and Darryl Share Their Stories

When people reflect on Christmas, they often mention faith, joy and family. And the responses don’t change just because someone is experiencing homelessness. But for many of our homeless friends, the holidays can be a reminder of family they no longer see and of the tragedies they’ve encountered.

Keely, a program participant at Fort Collins Rescue Mission, talked about her experience at Christmas last year.

“Last Christmas, I remember it being extremely cold, and I was literally living outside—no family, no friends. I think a lot of people reflect on family this time of year, but for me, Christmas definitely hasn’t
been good.”

“About ten years ago, my son died. He was nine years old. Before he died, I was 14 years sober, but when I lost him, I didn’t know what to do, it was such a tragic feeling … I started using again. I take Christmas a little harder than most people, and that’s what I remember about last Christmas, and not just last Christmas, but every Christmas since he’s passed. I’ve been sober for four years now, but even today, as Christmas approaches, I know I’ll have that feeling of sadness.”

Both Keely and Darryl are part of Fort Collins Rescue Mission’s Steps to Success program. Men and women who join Steps to Success are given a permanent bed, provided with avenues to find a job and taught life skills such as budgeting and time-management.

Perhaps most importantly, though, people enrolled in Steps to Success are provided with a community of support.

“This Christmas feels different,” said Keely “I’ve accepted God back into my life, and I’m looking forward to waking up on Christmas morning and being sober. I’m looking forward to having a place to lay my head on Christmas Eve, and I know that there’s people here for me every step of the way. I’m glad I’m here; I’m very blessed.”

“I know I’ll be thinking about my son,” said Darryl. “But this Christmas, it’s different. I’m reaching out for guidance, and I know I can rely on the staff here. Once you’re homeless, it’s hard to climb out of it and you need help, and that’s why I’m glad the Mission is here, especially on Christmas. They give you a foundation to help you get out of homelessness, and I’ve grown in my faith.”

At the Mission, we can’t change people’s previous experiences, a lot of which has been tainted with hurt, pain and loss. Not knowing where to turn, many of our homeless neighbors have attempted to cope with their hurt through drugs, which in turn leads to a life of seclusion and instability. But your donations help us provide a community of support and sobriety. And during the holidays, our community begins to feel a bit more like family.

“I just feel really cared for here,” said Keely. Recently, after being enrolled in Steps to Success for nearly two months, Keely’s dad was rushed to the hospital. “He’s the only family I have left. I was gone for nine days, just staying with him in the hospital. When I came back to the Mission, every single woman in Steps to Success gave me a hug and asked me about my dad and how I was doing. They had food for me and—it was just so meaningful, it was like family.”

Our family wouldn’t exist without you. Thank you for providing the people we serve with a way out of homelessness during the holiday season, and thanks for being a part of our family at Fort Collins Rescue Mission.