Cindy was experiencing heartache and a lack of community in her own life when she got connected to Love Your Neighbor.
As a retired teacher, she used the skills she had and taught one 4-week class at the Tuesday night program in Grandville, close to where she lives.
During that time she witnessed the power of community and the impact a supportive environment could provide, for others and for herself.
After that 4 weeks, the Life Skills Leader asked Cindy, “What do you want to teach next?” There were few teacher volunteers, so Cindy stayed. Over time, she led classes on healthy boundaries, anger management and even wrote a curriculum for a class on anxiety.
In addition to teaching, she signed up as a peer support and was matched to Jeana.
When they first began meeting, Jeana was teaching Cindy all of the new budgeting skills she learned in her financial literacy class.
“We were peers from the get-go,” Cindy shared.
Then, Cindy shared her own story and struggles with Jeana, which in turn helped Jeana feel understood and open up. Along the way, Cindy learned that Jeana had questions about Christianity.
“I was apprehensive to bring it up, but it’s up to God, right? It’s not up to me. So I said to Jeana, ‘Hey, there’s this Alpha program at my church. Are you interested?’ And she said yes.” So in addition to Tuesday nights, Jeana and Cindy started hanging out on Wednesdays, exploring the basics of the Christian faith together at Cindy’s church.
As their relationship deepened, it was a regular sight to see Cindy and Jeana holding hands and praying together.
“The prayer was always just, ‘Thank you God for bringing us together. I love being with Jeana.’ And she’d say, ‘I like being with you.’ The prayer was just thankfulness that we’re in this situation and we can support each other, and have this community around us.”
Cindy continues to serve on a weekly basis at Life Skills. When we ask her why she stays?
“I’m a cynical person and know how easy it is to say I’m just as blessed as the people I’m helping, but it’s true. I was in a place where I needed community and connection – this fills a need in me too.”
There are many ways for you to volunteer with Love & we hope you’ll join us: [email protected]
We’ll be sharing 40 stories of transformation leading up to our 40th Celebration Block Party on September 24th. Please join us!