Client Stories

Imagine a family of six, including four young children, living in a tent for 7 weeks.
This happened one spring when a family came to Open Door with their story of being evicted. They had borrowed the tent and were living without indoor plumbing in a campground.
The father worked, but the family was really struggling.  No place to live and with payments at a camp ground no way to save the security deposit or first month rent. Then the people who loaned the family the tent asked for it back. Open Door bought a tent for them in July, and for the next two months, staff and the family worked to pool funds from local churches. With the father’s savings, the family was able to put $2,200 down to rent a house. Open Door provided many visits of food, clothing, gas cards and books for the kids. By September, the family was out of the tent and living in a new home.

A death in the family can shock people in many ways.
A couple with three children asked Open Door to help provide clothing so the family could attend a funeral. They did not have "dress clothing".  Staff was able to send the family to the Resale Shop, and provide vouchers for special outfits for each family member.
“We get a request for clothing for a funeral four to five times a year,” said staff. The family now can be proud to attend their mothers and grandmothers funeral being more at ease to see family and friends.