Tunysha’s Story

Tunysha was referred to us by our client, Helania (see LIFEStories- A Change of Heart, May, 2016). Mary Anne first met with her in December, 2015, and was told she needed a place to live because she was currently living with an abusive boyfriend. She had an infant daughter and was pregnant as well. Mary Anne told her about the kind of holistic support we give families in her situation and that we would not let her down. Tunysha was unsure. A friend told her we probably wouldn’t keep our promises to her, but she decided to trust us.

The first step we took was to connect her with Good Counsel Homes. This is an amazing organization that we frequently work with. They provide a place to stay for moms and their children when they are in situations like Tunysha’s. Unfortunately, there was no room at the Riverside Home. She was invited to go to one of their homes in New York, but she did not want to go that far. She decided she would go and stay with her mother for a while. Helper, Kim, became a friend to her and continued much needed support during this time.

As we know, it is very difficult for women to break away from their abusers. Two months later she was back with her boyfriend and then soon after, she reached out for help again. Mary Anne took her to Hopeworks ‘N Camden, another wonderful organization. There she was signed up to begin their work program. Helpers offered to get her a room, but she was still not ready to leave her boyfriend. Mary Anne took her to WIC and Welfare with a letter proving she was attending the Hopeworks program, and she was able to get government assistance in the form of cash, food stamps and daycare for her daughter, Alayah. This began her journey to independence.

She was encouraged to apply for low income housing and Helpers wrote a letter of support for her. At that time no apartment was available, but she was put on the waiting list. Unfortunately she was being evicted before an apartment was available and DCP&P (Division of Child Protection and Permanency) planned to take Alayah if Tunysha had nowhere to go. She reluctantly agreed to go up to New York to Good Counsel Homes in Spring Valley. She did so with the best interest of her daughter in mind. Claire drove her to New York and Tunysha showed sacrificial love for her daughter by going far out of her comfort zone in order to keep and care for her toddler.

Joyfully in June we helped Tunysha move into her new apartment in Camden! Her new daughter, Mahogany, was born 3 weeks early on July 7th, 2016. She weighed 6 pounds, 4 ounces and was 19 inches tall!

Helpers have continued to be there for Tunysha. Helper Dot can often be found taking Tunysha shopping or to appointments. Dot once took her and her sick baby to the hospital at 10:30 pm and went back to get them to bring them home at 3 am! We have helped her financially when she was short one month to pay her PSE&G bill, and taken her to the Laundromat and paid for the washer and drier.

Tunysha told Mary Anne that she wants to be a Helper too! She has been heard telling new moms that they can feel safe with us because we do everything we say we will. She has already referred friends to us and is determined to do what she can to help others. She jokes that she is Mary Anne’s “favorite”. She and her daughters have become a part of the Helper family.

Tunysha’s next goal is to get her driver’s license and buy a used car. She expects her tax return soon and is planning to put it to good use. Helper Claire asked her husband, Pete, to look for a car for Tunysha since he is a partner in a small dealership. We are all in this together! We all have gifts, talents and connections to help families in need.

This woman is a perfect example of what we do. We lend a hand to the helpless, we help rebuild lives, we help give people hope and we do it all because our loving Father in Heaven allows it! We thank Helpers, Kim and Dot, and all of you who pray for, as well as financially (and in many other ways) support our families. We are so proud of how far this mother has come!

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17