Tina was always her boss’s go-to, the one to be counted on. She reveled in the hard work at a bustling convenience store until pain got in the way . . .

A back surgery from her early teenage years, compounded by the physical impact of being on her feet all day caused Tina’s health to deteriorate rapidly. Before long, she realized she could no longer physically do her job. And it hit her hard.

Depression gripped her, fueled by alcohol addiction. “I started drinking when I was eight or nine. Then, as I grew into an adult, it just got worse. When I lost my job, I went into a downward spiral . . . I was getting evicted. Then, I lost my vehicle, too. You know just everything all at once.”

Facing homelessness and deep in despair, Tina thought ending her life was the only option.

God had a plan for Tina, and it did not include suicide. She got care and counseling and soon found safe refuge at Nashville Rescue Mission.

“When you’re living a normal life and you think about the homeless, you don’t even know the half of it until you’ve lived it,” Tina says. “I could be out on the street right now if the doors hadn’t been open here.”

Thanks to support from caring friends and donors, Tina settled into our Christ-centered community where she had access to life-changing programs and services that focus on the health and well-being of the entire person—physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, and social. And she will tell you she has made the most of every resource!

“I’m doing [well] for the first time in a long, long time,” Tina says. “I’m really grateful and I’m blessed. I’m a totally different person than I was a year ago.”

At Nashville Rescue Mission, Tina received help to overcome addiction, and she’s flourishing in an atmosphere of love, gaining the insight she needs to lead a productive life.

“I love the staff here, and I consider them family. I love chapel. They’ll say, ‘We love you’ to us. You know how good that feels? On Saturday, they sang the song, ‘You’re not forgotten.’ I felt like they were singing it to me!

“If you asked me a year ago if I thought I would ever end up here . . . well, I’m glad I did! And I’m really grateful that I was able to come here. It gives me time to reflect and to process what’s important.”

With renewed hope and confidence, Tina is excited about the new year ahead—and the rest of her life. She’s eager to find work and live independently again, and she looks forward to giving back to the Mission that has helped change her life. “I want staff to know they’re appreciated,” she says.

Thank you for your support that is helping neighbors like Tina heal and rebuild their lives!