Neighbors like David, who was suffering from clinical depression and lost everything: job, home, family, hope. “I ended up really, really depressed, to a point where I tried to commit suicide twice, but nobody knew,” David says. How terrible to be so isolated—so alone.

David came to Cherry Street looking for a meal, and for someone to care. And in the summer ahead, neighbors will continue to head here for meals and help, hoping for a new life . . .

When you support Cherry Street, you are making an impact in the lives of people like David. Help today.

Susan Graalman, Community Relations Manager, shares this story . . .

“After the luncheon I was approached by a woman who had tears in her eyes. She shared with me that Cherry Street helped her dad. Before he came to Cherry Street he was an alcoholic and was abusive. Through Cherry Street her dad became sober and accepted Christ into his life. When he passed away 10 years ago, there was peace within his family. The woman shared that she was never able to thank Cherry Street and wanted to make sure she said thank you today.”

When you support Cherry Street, you are making an impact in the lives of people like this father and his daughter.
Help today.

Lanise grew up in a loving family with strong Christian values; Seven brothers and two sisters, all raised right. But life was not easy growing up in Compton, CA. Lanise lost her way, falling into a life of adultery, drugs, and despair. She sought help with family in Atlanta, but an opportunity for immediate recovery brought her to Toledo. She overcame her reliance on crack cocaine, cigarettes, and alcohol. “god spared my life even though I was disobedient,” said Lanise. She came to Cherry Street for refuge as she sought to regain her own life. “I believe in prayer . . . prayer changes everything,” Lanise continued. Every day she meditates on the Word of God, and seeks God’s forgiveness every day. Lanise revitalized her life, finding her own apartment and job, and completing her reconnection to a full life.

Cherry Street is a refuge to many and your support is vital. You can help today when you make a donation toward transforming a life like Lanise’s.”

“If you have the will and put the work in you can take some big steps forward,” said Bonni. “And people notice too. They pay attention when they see you putting in the effort.”

Having been in the Army, she is no stranger to hard work. Bonni was a guest of Cherry Street for less than 60 days before she was ready to move into a stable life.

Bonni says just the location of Cherry Street is a benefit to people who are looking to get back into an independent life. “You’ve got all the services you need within walking distance or a quick bus ride. I needed my birth certificate and Cherry Street helped me out within 24 hours. From there I was able to move on with my life and all the things that I had to get an order.”

In the short time Bonni stayed at Cherry Street, she participated in small group and Bible study. She also used her time to help tutor others who were pursuing their high school equivalency exams. It is that attention to relationships that makes the difference in how Cherry Street serves the community. Most people who come to Cherry Street are living in poverty by not having house, live in poverty by not having enough food to eat. But they also live in poverty of relationships. Not having relationships has not allowed them to have a place to live or people to share a meal with.

Cherry Street stands in that temporary relationship while people like Bonni get their life back in order. Your support of Cherry Street allows for someone to move at their own pace towards a stable life when you make a donation today.

Vincent looked out into his world and saw a vicious cycle; People made bad decisions and reaped terrible consequences. He struggled his whole life with alcohol and mental health issues. After losing his brother to AIDS, Vincent made the choice to work with Cherry Street to make real change in his life. Vincent partnered with Cherry Street to transform his life. Vincent made a goal, followed his plan, took pride in his daily tasks, and secured a manufacturing job. “(I)f you want to get out, you can but like I said, it’s a cycle and if you get stuck into that cycle, you’re going to be there for a long time. I’m just not okay with that.”

Your support of Cherry Street allows for the cycle of poverty to be broken when you make a donation today.

Sometimes, the safety net isn’t enough. Even those who can weather the costs of illness cannot overcome the loss of income that comes with recovery. When Dale came to Cherry Street, he needed a place to recover from a brain injury that left him physically and mentally diminished. While Medicaid covered the costs of his surgery, like so many, Dale’s income was dependent on having the health to work. Cherry Street gave him a place to recover and empowered him to rebuild his life. Now Dale looks forward to a new job and a new role at Cherry Street as a supporter. You can be a supporter, like Dale. When you make a donation today you are showing your support toward the work done at Cherry Street.

Life can be hard across Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Many neighbors struggle with deep poverty, caught in a downward cycle of jobs that don’t pay the rent and bills, keep food on the table, or provide hope for the future.  It is no secret that our region has it’s share of economic problems.

Friends like you, concerned about your community, see the challenge of caring for neighbors in need. Because people we encounter today need more than just a meal and a place to stay, they crave the conversations at Cherry Street, which lead to real life revitalization through recovery programs and vocational training that lead toward productive, independent lives!

For your neighbors in need seeking to start over, as a community- we can’t say no to their need—but it will take help like yours to provide scholarship opportunities at Cherry Street.

Your generosity today will have a direct impact on the people who desire a better life and the greater community.  Not only meeting physical needs, but also helping rebuild the lives and families of those seeking lasting change through Cherry Street’s key vocational training. Your gift will help provide the solution to homelessness, hunger, and poverty—one life at a time! Thank you for your gift and prayers as we enter into a new session of the workforce development program.

There’s isolation at the holidays. For those who have lost everything, including close relationships, Thanksgiving is a reminder of hunger, loneliness, and homelessness that much worse. What if you’re alone like Lawrence, who not only faced physical poverty, but also a poverty of relationships that left him with nobody left to turn to for a meal, for help, or for hope. In fact, as he sat down to a nutritious plate of food and much-needed conversation at Cherry Street he said, “I had no idea how to be homeless, of how people look down on you. I mean, I was born here, raised right down the street!” Yet when Lawrence lost everything, God led him through the doors of Cherry Street.

Surrounding the Thanksgiving holiday, Cherry Street will serve more than 43,000 meals to meet immediate physical needs of neighbors like Lawrence, and start the conversations and relationships that lead to life revitalization. We serve a big, hearty Thanksgiving meal—with all the trimmings. Those meals led to the provision of safe housing, Christ-centered programs, and practical job training to help people break out of poverty and move forward with a new life.

“I want to shake your hand and thank you for everything you’re doing here!” Lawrence smiled. Lawrence has that hope in his heart now, and he’s on his way to an independent future: “Cherry Street is a stepping stone. You don’t have to be here for the long term—you can use the prayers and services they provide and improve,” continued Lawrence. “That’s what they want for you here, so you won’t be in this situation forever!”

Donors like you can seize this opportunity to make transforming lives like his part of your holiday season when you
make a contribution today

X does not want to have people know who she is.

She has to move within 45 days or her rent is going up by 33%. She is leaving her abusive relationship. She is getting ready to celebrate a birthday. She is going through a lot of change. Nevertheless, X was hungry for more.

X saw a change in her friend’s life. “I saw her whole life change” and X wanted the same change in her life. “I watched her pull up in her new car, moving into a new place, and handling all kinds of new adventures.” X wanted to satiate that hunger- she wanted what her friend had, “It’s her confidence. She knows she has a career and she doesn’t live in a distracted state,” said X.

“When I asked her what was different she told me, ‘Go to Cherry Street. Do the work. Go to the classes. They didn’t just help me get a job. They changed my life.’ “, said X.

X reminds herself and others to remember the importance to give back, whether by monetary support or through volunteering. “I plan to be back!”, said X.

Even in the midst of the joy and hope, just a few days ago over the holiday season, Cherry Street saw many men and women still coming to Cherry Street. They will continue to come through the new year into the deep winter. They arrive hungry for a meal—and also hungry for a change in their life.

Like many, Randall is a local senior who had been living in poverty and was close to the edge. Randall lost his home when the landlord sold the building, putting him out on the street with only two bags of clothes to call his own. “This is the first time in my life I’ve ever been homeless,” he says.

Gratefully he says, “I’ll never forget this place or the help you’ve given me.” And for a man who once felt completely isolated and alone, he is so thankful for the opportunities and resources available at Cherry Street. “I consider you my friends.”

We echo his thanks for the compassion and care the community has shown to those served at Cherry Street. Your support allows us to reach more neighbors in need and who are hungry for more than mere food. Make a donation online today.

As always, you are encouraged to schedule a tour or call if you have questions.