Kerry
 I wanted to thank Marguerite's Place for all that you've done for me and my sons. I will never be able to truly express in words the amount of gratitude I feel for you all.
When I came here I was at a very low place in my life. I had been out of work for over a year and about to lose my apartment. Until that point, I had been supporting my children without any help for seven years. When I was no longer able to do that, I felt like I was failing as a mother. I went from being such a positive person to being so pessimistic in such a short time. My children mean the world to me; they are the reason I exist. I was willing to do whatever was asked of me to be able to support them, but I felt all alone. I don't think people truly understand how hard it is to be a single parent. Financially yes, but more than that is the emotional drain and stress of having to do it all on your own. There is no one to share your worries and concerns with. It can feel unendurable to carry on with the normal daily functions of life, when you don't know if you're soon going to be homeless. I didn't know how I was going to pay the rent and keep the electricity on, but I still had to get up everyday and go to work, or school, or both. Not to mention having to deal with the violence from my sons' father. I didn't feel safe for myself, yet I still had to protect them. Dealing with these concerns is difficult for anyone, but to have to also be a mother, and keep these burdens off of the children is near impossible. "The heavier the load you have to carry, the harder it is to take each step." I was so tired and discouraged from carrying this load all by myself.
Then I came to Marguerite's Place, Inc. I truly consider myself blessed to be here. Everyone is so nice and helpful. In the two months I've lived here I feel like I've already accomplished so much. I've already received my GED and a certificate for Accounting. Before I came here my goal was to simply make it through the day. Now, with your help, I am setting real goals and actually saving a little money. Not only have you helped to lighten my load by alleviating some of my burdens, it's now easier for me to carry what's left because I no longer have to carry it alone. If all you had done was given us a place to live, that would have been more than enough. For that I would have been eternally grateful. But you all have done so much more. My whole attitude has changed, I'm positive again and confident in my parenting abilities. I no longer feel alone.
I believe as long as you have hope, you can go on and things can get better. Thank you all, so much, for giving me back my hope!
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During
my time at Marguerite's Place, I have done some schooling at the Adult
Learning Center where I received my certificates in Medical Terminology
and Medical Office Procedures. After about two months of volunteering
at Southern N.H. Medical Center's business office, they offered me the
position of Medical Records Clerk.
Before I came to Marguerite's
Place my life was very upsetting. My mother had thrown me out because I
was using drugs and I was staying temporarily with my alcoholic father
in an unhealthy environment of verbal and physical abuse. I had a
boyfriend who was also using drugs,so the entire picture was bad. Every
day was some kind of screaming match and it was awful. When I thought
about it, I realized my life had been in this mess for almost ten
years.