One of Share a Smile's priorities is helping "women in transition." These are women facing financial challenges due to divorce, widowhood or the after-effects of fleeing an abusive relationship.
We are proud to work with the YWCA (Greater Flint), Haven (Pontiac), Safe Place (Bad Axe), Common Ground Sanctuary (southeastern Michigan) and other non-profits to help these women in transition begin again.
This letter came to us from a woman who received a Share A Smile grant for the security deposit and first month's rent for a new, safe home for herself and her family.
To the Share A Smile Family,
My name is Theresa and I recently was a recipient of a grant from your organization. I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me to start all over again.
Receiving this grant has helped me create a brand new life. I now have the opportunity to give my daughter a beautiful home, and allow her to go to school in a great district. I have seen my daughter change for the better. My daughter is proud of where she lives. She takes pride in her room (which has always been a challenge). I feel like I am a good parent now. I am confident that I can and will make the best choices when it comes to parenting my daughter. I am confident that the memories my child will have from this point on will be positive.
I walked away from an abusive relationship. Much of which I didn't know was abusive but through counseling I am wiser. I walked away from low self-esteem. I walked away from living in fear of what might happen in front of my daughter. I walked away from shame and embarassment.
But thanks to the Share A Smile family, I have walked into a newness of life. I have walked into a place that I can call home. I have walked into a place that I can rest. I have walked into a place where love fills the air. Most of all I have walked into a place where I set the atmosphere of peace, love and harmony.
From the bottom of my heart I say thank you. You have certainly put a smile upon me and my daughter's face.
Sincerely,
Theresa
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