Kate Drake and David Nicholson were homeless, addicted to drugs and had to give up their twin babies to foster care. With help from the foster parents who took in their kids, they fought for recovery. Today they have their twins back and they have their lives back. Most parents would likely agree that children are a gift from God – but how many can call them literal … [Read more...]
Fighting for Zero: Formerly Homeless Veteran Helps Lower Homeless Veteran Rates
The 30-second commercial begins with a man strolling through a park, an alley, and then downtown, telling a story as he goes. “As a Marine, I learned resiliency,” the man says. “But when I lost my job, my home, and was living out of my car, I felt like a shadow of that person.” Abilenians watching the Rocket Mortgage commercial might lean in closer to the TV to get a … [Read more...]
Seeds of Love
How a Community Garden Brought Neighbors Together David Feemster remembers his exact thoughts when plans were announced at Aldersgate United Methodist Church for a community garden. His thoughts weren’t exactly supportive, but he probably wasn’t the only member of the church with the same idea. “I thought it was kind of a crazy idea for a ministry,” Feemster … [Read more...]
Letters of Hope
Children in foster care write letters to senior communities Age is just a number, as the saying goes, and no one knows that better than the children of the Audrey Grace House at New Horizons foster care and adoption center - and the residents of the care facilities with whom they communicate via cards and letters. Despite attention from a loving and committed staff, … [Read more...]
One Pet at a Time: Fostering Keeps Abilene Animal Shelter Thriving
Michael Bricker has an admirable goal for the Abilene Animal Shelter, and it’s one that everyone can help him meet. On July 1, 2020, Bricker took over as interim animal services director for the city of Abilene. He is employed by Best Friends Animal Society, a national rescue organization with an animal sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. Bricker was named interim director of the … [Read more...]