There is Help Here!
There is Help Here! Amy Miller, Client Services Manager
One day, as I was stocking shelves with the most recent donations we’d received from Crossroads’ annual diaper drive, a young mother walked in off the street.
Distraught, shaking, tearful, she struggled to balance her toddler on her slender hip. She mumbled something about diapers and help. Then the tears rolled as she braced herself against the front counter in our lobby.
“Honestly, I really just need someone to talk me down from the ledge,” she said, her voice quivering. I handed her a tissue. Between ragged breaths and sniffles, she managed to explain to me that she was a former Crossroads client. Despite working hard at a full-time job, she was financially overwhelmed at the moment. She had come to our office in hopes of still having enough points left from her time in the Bridges program to receive a package of free diapers. As she talked, a list of problems that admittedly seemed insurmountable tumbled from her lips, including everything from a hostile work environment to loss of close family members, an unsupportive partner, and health issues of her own.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she despaired. “But I do know from the last time I came to Crossroads that there is help here.”
What a beautiful way to frame the legacy of Crossroads as we celebrate our 40th year: There is help here.
She left that day with four packages of diapers from her remaining Bridges points; phone numbers and addresses for agencies that could help with her most immediate needs; a cereal bar for her hungry toddler; and a word of prayer that we shared together.
She stopped in two weeks later. Instead of tears in her eyes, I could see a light of gratitude, and a glimmer of peace. She said, “I just wanted you to know that when I left here last week, I had hope for the first time in a long time.” She told me she’d found help through several of the resources I shared with her. We prayed together once more, with her toddler confidently shouting “Amen!” at the end.
As she edged toward the door, the tears returned. “I just miss my mother so much. Could I give you a hug?” I was happy to comply! As she clung to me, she whispered in my ear, “Thank God you are here! You helped me so much!”
Yes, this is the legacy of Crossroads – God-moments over a package of diapers. Without the Crossroads’ family of prayer warriors, selfless givers, and volunteers who have supported us for the past 40 years, there would be no hope, help, healing (or hugs and Huggies™!) for many families in our community.