Deidre grew up in a broken home, bouncing from her mom’s house to herdad’s and back again.

“I never really felt loved,” she says. “My mom struggled with drugs, and pretty much forced me to take care of the household, including my younger siblings. I feel like I missed out on my childhood.”

Deidre made good grades and looked forward to going to college. She wanted to major in business. But when financial problems hit, she dropped out. She ended up partying, working low paying jobs and moving from house to house, wherever she could find a place to lay her head. Eventually, there were no more places to turn.

“I was 20 years old and five months pregnant,” she remembers. “I was scared, but I wanted a fresh start.”

Someone told Deidre about Joy House, the family shelter at the Milwaukee Rescue Mission. When she arrived, all she had were the clothes on her back. At Joy House she received new socks, underwear, pajamas, lotion and body wash — “things I had been wishing for all my life.”

“They took me in, not knowing anything about me,” Deidre says. “They treated me better than anyone ever had. They treated me like I was one of their own.”

Her son was born in August 2013. She got a job at OfficeMax, where she’s now on track to move into management. She’s been saving her money, and she’s now engaged to her son’s father.

“I’ve grown up a lot, I’ve found Christ and I’m ready to move on — so someone else who needs it can take my spot. None of this could’ve happened without the Milwaukee Rescue Mission and friends like you. Thank you!”