Nicholas spent 8 years in the Navy. He jokes that his brother was an Air Force recruiter but somehow he joined a different team. He was in charge of information for flight missions and other classified matters. His service was vital to the safety of America and the safety of others in the Armed Forces.

Nicholas has fallen on hard times as a victim of theft recently and is getting back on track while staying at Cherry Street. He’s participating in group study, Bible study, and going to church. Nicholas recalls his military past with a laugh,

“There’s the military way and then there is the wrong way to do things”.

That’s the foundation Nicholas has been reflecting on.

Cherry Street stands in support of men and woman like Nicholas who served our country and gave of themselves for our freedom and liberties, but need help today toward a personal independent future.

Lisa worked 6 days a week during the summer in Port Clinton. It was tough work that lead her to needing carpel tunnel surgery.

The money ran out post-surgery, she stayed with friends as long as she could and Lisa had run out of options. Lisa recovered at Cherry Street and took some classes while here.

Lisa says, “To be honest with you, I mean if it weren’t for all of you in Cherry Street Mission and Sparrow’s Nest, I don’t know where I’d be. The staff is really nice. I get along with just about everybody.”

When Sherri first came to Cherry Street she called her case worker practically everyday begging, “Get me out of here!”

She was surrounded by people praying for her, sharing their love of God with her and wanting to help her.

Sherri was used to being on her own and fending for herself. She’s been in sex trafficking and abusive relationships and found no value in herself.

While staying at the Sparrow’s Nest, Sherri had a heart attack. She had no one to turn to. She felt no one would know, (let alone care), if she was dead or alive. Instead, staff from Cherry Street came to see her in the hospital and prayed over her.

Sherri spent a lot of time turning away from Jesus but finally she was hearing Him calling her name.

Now you’ll find Sherri in a home of her own, in a relationship with Jesus, shopping around for a home church, listening to Bible studies on the radio, and regularly returning to Cherry Street to mentor other women.

Thank you for your support of people like Sherri!

Claude worked in ministry for many years helping to get the homeless off the streets and into homes. The weight of ministry became too much to bare and Claude found himself in the same situation that he was trying to rescue others from.

With nowhere else to turn, Claude chose to come to Cherry Street. Through Cherry Street, Claude has been able to get back to a place of stability. Claude has reconnected with his family and is moving into his own apartment.

Claude says,

“Thank you for everything. The donors have made this all possible. They have helped a lot of people here….It’s a good thing to be here, it changes your life.”

Thank you for your support of people like Claude!

John found himself at Cherry Street after the loss of his mother. With no job and with his funds running low he had nowhere else to turn.

John decided to join the Call Center Customer Service Training program. Here he has learned the necessary skills that he needs to find a job in a variety of fields.

John dreams of becoming a writer and an entrepreneur one day. He believes that the skills he has learned in the Call Center Classes will help him achieve that.

Nearly two years after his time at Cherry Street, John has finally found himself in a place of moving forward. He is excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and is ready to move forward with his life.

John is thankful for the opportunities that Cherry Street has brought him.

Ten years – That’s how long Ken has volunteered with Cherry Street Mission Ministries. What started as serving a meal once a month turned into leading weekly Bible studies.

Ken started volunteering at Cherry Street with his church serving meals the first Friday of every month. While serving dinner one night, Ken felt led to share with the men and women about his faith. Feeling compelled to share more; he started coming more and more often.

Serving once a month quickly turned into serving once a week. Weekly Bible studies became the norm for Ken. Ken would type up notes for the men to keep and refer back to. If they needed a Bible, he would run out and purchase one for them. On the inside cover he would write their name and write given to you from the Holy Spirit.

One night during Bible study a man came in and had planned to stab someone that night. The power of God fell and the man was touched by the Holy Spirit and it changed him. Ken said that God filled the man with love and he left that night with joy in his heart.

Ken’s greatest memory has been meeting with the men here and doing Bible study with them. He’s met a lot of wonderful people during his time serving at Cherry Street Mission Ministries. He’s also learned a lot from the guest, staff and the people he has served alongside with.

The best advice Ken would give to anyone who wants to come and serve is to come with a humble heart and learn names; learning the names of others shows that you care. You’ll get more out of it than you give. Ken says God does wonderful things in our lives if we ask him. As a person lives, people come and go. God is the only One always there.

“I’ve taken Bible study classes. We’ve had group sessions with our group leaders. I have learned quite a bit about the Christian belief, the religion and the relationship with Jesus, while being in here”, said Corey. His faith has grown. “I was rocky . . . but, yes, I believe. My knowledge on it has expanded since I’ve been here”, Corey continues.

Corey had always planned to make a new start when he was released from prison. This new start may have worked out better than he hoped. He has gotten married and completed vocational training while staying at Cherry Street. “Don’t give up on the people that stay down here. There are people down here that need the help. There are good people down here. Yes, there are people that you might still be weary of, but this is what it’s about. Support coming in is going to a good cause. It’s going to help people. For some of these people – that’s saving our lives,” Corey said.

His hope for a new start is bookended by the trouble he sees in the lives of others. “I’ve seen amazing people down here. I’ve seen people struggle, and some worse than that, as well. I’ve also seen people succeed. Other people are still on that path of destruction. Some people have passed [away], since I’ve been here,” he said. Corey’s positive attitude remains unfettered nonetheless. Corey continued, “So, I really am thankful for anything that I have left. Because I know things have gotten really tough out here. I know that they struggled to keep it going moneywise, to keep the place afloat. The fact that they still came through and still kept this place going is amazing. I really, really, really am thankful for that. I’m really thankful for all the partners who still keep places like this going and still believe in people down here.”

Kacie came to Toledo on the promise of love. Turns out, she was duped.

After a few days of some good times, Kacie was abandoned by her ‘boyfriend’. She found herself alone in Toledo, hundreds of miles away from home, without any money and without any way to get home. “He promised me,” Kacie said. “He promised he wouldn’t do me wrong.” Kacie had a ticket home from Amtrak but the ‘boyfriend’ couldn’t (or wouldn’t) take her to the train station.

Missing the train home, Kacie was stuck. With nowhere to turn, no person to help; Kacie came to Cherry Street. “I came here because I was hungry,” said Kacie. “But you all have helped me way more than that.”

As a matter of common practice, advocates at Cherry Street introduce themselves to any new face. Through the opening conversation, Kacie shared her story with staff. That’s when staff swung into action!

First, the ministry team got Kacie a nutritious meal and some basic hygiene items. Then after a few calls, they got Amtrak to honor Kacie’s unused ticket from the day before. Kacie’s sister was contacted and agreed to pick Kacie up at the station in St. Louis Missouri. Next, Kacie spent her first and only night in the Sparrow’s Nest, safe and surrounded by caring people. While she stayed with Cherry Street, Kacie and staff prayed together. By evening time mentors and counselors discussed with Kacie the poverty in her life that lead her to be so desperate for love that she decided to leave her three children, three states away. The next morning, Cherry Street staff got Kacie on the train home.

In our short time together, Kacie may have not seen the true results of her decisions, but the staff and volunteers at Cherry Street know that a mustard seed just might have been planted.

“I mostly keep to myself. It keeps the drama down. I don’t really care what others think of me,” says Norman.

Norman first came to Cherry Street from a local rural hospital. In his hometown there are not a lot of options for people living in poverty; nor those who find themselves to be homeless. Norman arrived hungry for safety and hungry for a bit of independence.

He was transported from the hospital to Cherry Street earlier this year. When Norman first arrived he was in a manual wheelchair struggling to get through the old, heavy doors at Cherry Street ‘s Life Revitalization Center. Others help Norman get in and out of the building and access his needs.

On the work site Norman fell into a hole. He injured his foot which then turned into gangrene. The doctors noted the infection moving closer and closer to Norman’s knee. Rather than risk further surgeries they decided to take the leg off just below his hip.

Through the partnerships at Cherry Street and in Cherry Streets philosophy of providing access to all services for ALL people; Norman was able to obtain a motorized wheelchair. He explained, “When this thing is fully charged it can really GO. Each night I am assigned a bed next to an electrical outlet so I can recharge.”

Construction along Monroe St. has been a challenge for Norman; and others like him who struggle with mobility. “There is a little path between here and the gas station down the road that I have to follow through. During certain parts of the day it’s not real safe for me to cross the street. I try to avoid those times,” said Norman. When Norman was asked what his thoughts were about the arrival of snow he shrugged his shoulders and said,” It will be cold soon too. I’ll do the best that I can.”

Norman does think though about how he arrived hungry for safety and has been provided that by the staff and supporters of Cherry Street. “I get along fine at Cherry Street. Plus, since the elevator has been fixed at the men’s facility I have been able to rejoin Bible study on the second floor,” said Norman.

Norman starts each day in prayer and thanksgiving. He says he has always had a relationship with God. He is a man of few words, has a gentle smile and always a kind word. He likes to listen to other people share their stories.

A hunger for independence dwells within Norman as well. He says, “I just need to get approved for some low-income housing. I’d like to move back home so I can be closer to my baby sister. In my own place I’ll be able to get along just fine in my new wheelchair or on a crutch and my good left leg.” Through relationships built with Norman and partnerships within Cherry Street; Norman’s hunger for intangible items like independence and safety are being provided through Cherry Street and through your support of Cherry Street.

Alexus was attracted to the work Cherry Street does from the very first moment. “When I first came, I didn’t know what Cherry Street was because I’m not from here. I’m from Chicago so I’ve never heard of Cherry Street or understand what they did. Just when you realize that they’re trying to spread the Word of God and you know that that’s what you’re supposed to be doing, then it’s just best for you to hop on that bandwagon in any way that you can. My faith is the thing that keeps me going because without faith, you can’t prosper. Without faith, you can’t do what you need to do. Basically, I do my best to make sure that everybody would be able to come to God and when judgment day comes in, we’ll all have a party in heaven,” Alexus proclaimed.

And while she has been in a relationship with Cherry Street she is getting better in other ways. When she reflects on what she knows now and how she handles life differently she says it’s easier since having had some training at Chery Street about handling conflict and our emotions. Alexus explains, “If I get into an argument, then it’s easier for me to try to listen and understand what they’re trying to say instead of me just like, “No, I don’t care.” Because when I argue, then I shut down. I don’t have nothing to say to you, but now, I know how to express what I’m thinking in my head. Like say, we’re arguing over where we can eat tonight and I’m saying I don’t care. I’ll be able to think and be like, “Okay. Someone has to make a decision.” I can handle that. Just little stuff or even big stuff too, actually. It’s easier. It’s better. I know how to handle things better than I could before. Emotionally, I’m better, but that’s also because of the way that I’ve been in Cherry Street, with the people that surround me, and pull me up, and make sure that I’m okay. That contributes to me being a little bit more confident and controlling my emotions more.”

Alexus is grateful for those who support Cherry Street. She is grateful to those who those who have been helping her and others served at Cherry Street. She is especially happy when past guests who come back to offer encouragement saying, “Even if they may be going through their tough time now, but when they get out of their tough time, then they’ll be able to look back and like, “Oh, that person helped me to be better, to make sure that I would be able to be taken care of while I was going through my tough time, so now, I can give back too.” Because I think there are some supporters of Cherry Street that used to live here but now, they’re doing better and they can give. They come down here and they talk to people. They like that, to see somebody else that’s gone through what they’re going through. They like it when people come back and they’d be like, “Oh, I lived here.”

Continuing, Alexus said, “For the people that give, I hope that they understand how much it means to the people that actually live here or even people that just got to eat here, that means a lot because trying to sustain this big old building, trying to make sure there’s enough food for everybody to eat every day and sometimes more than just one time and one meal is a lot. It’s a lot of food. It’s a lot of money, so that money helps, just a little $5.00 because $5.00 from everybody in the world would be a lot of money.”