A Journey of Hope
Growing up in the foster care system, Lily (name changed for privacy) often described herself as an “angry kid.” She felt misunderstood, bouncing from home to home, and never quite sure where she belonged. When she turned 18, she ran away with her boyfriend, convinced they could take on the world together.
With no place to call home, they lived in tents and ate whenever they were able to collect enough money. Together, they made one promise - to stay away from drugs so they could see clearly and work toward their shared dream of good jobs, an apartment, and starting a family. But life doesn’t always go as planned. Her boyfriend was eventually pulled into addiction, and Lily faced an impossible choice: try to save him at the risk of losing herself, or walk away.
She chose herself.
Lily boarded a bus to Sarasota with nothing but her determination and walked through the doors of The Salvation Army’s Center of Hope. For the first time in years, she felt truly seen. People looked her in the eye—not with pity or judgment—but with genuine care. They wanted to help her. They wanted the best for her. Slowly, she began to believe it. For the first time in a long time, she trusted.
Those connections became her anchor. The Emergency Shelter staff encouraged her every step of the way, celebrating small victories and helping her see the possibilities ahead. With their support - and her own determination - Lily rebuilt her life piece by piece.
Today, Lily works full-time and rides her bike to work every day. She has her own apartment, is finishing her GED at Suncoast Technical College, and dreams of a career in digital marketing. Art, her lifelong refuge, kept her grounded when she felt alone as a child, and now it fuels her hope for the future.
Lily’s story is proof that when compassion meets determination, lives can be transformed—and trust can be rebuilt.