One of our youngest Loveladies, Katie remembers that she had a good childhood, even though addiction had a hold on her family. Her mother and stepfather struggled with drugs. Katie and her siblings were unaware of their struggle, however, until one day, Katie arrived home from school to find her mother had left.
"I came home from school and she was just gone. I was supposed to stay with my stepdad but I was just angry . . . I ran off and stayed with my friends," Katie said.
Katie fell in with the wrong crowd and began her path into addiction, as many do, with marijuana.
"First, I started smoking weed, I started drinking, and it went from that to pills, and before I was even fourteen, I was doing dope (methamphetamine)."
From that point, Katie began using intravenously. She stayed in school until her senior year, at eight months pregnant. During pregnancy, Katie stopped using the drugs and gave birth to her son, but when he was about a year old, she fell back into the old habits. She used every drug she could get her hands.
Last May, Katie entered The Lovelady Center program and was given an education plan.
Normally, with someone as young as Katie, a High School diploma would be feasible, however, Education Director Connie Farrell said that obtaining a GED would be faster than a high school diploma. She wanted to get Katie into college as soon as possible.
Katie accomplished getting her GED quickly and a month later, she was enrolled in college. She wants to be an RN.
"I'm in my second semester of college now and I was just given two scholarship opportunities - one to UAB and one to the University of Alabama! I'm super excited! I've maintained a 4.0 GPA."
"Katie is a stellar client and a prime example of what the Education Department at The Lovelady Center wishes to see in every participant. This is what is possible," said Connie Farrell. First, we figure out an education plan, during which, if we discover that they do not have a GED or high school diploma, they will be placed in tutoring until that goal is achieved. This is 'Lovelady law.' You must be ever reaching for higher educational opportunities. If they do have a high school diploma or a GED, I introduce them to college possibilities, certification programs, adult education options."
Opportunities to Invest in The Lovelady Center
Investment of Time
"We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." -Ephesians 2:10
Come alongside the Lovelady Center and serve our residents: Volunteer
Investment of Resources
"Make sure you don’t take things for granted and go slack in working for the common good; share what you have with others. God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship — a different kind of 'sacrifice' —that take place in the kitchen and in the workplace and on the streets." -Hebrews 13:16 (MSG)
Because of God’s goodness, we are able to sustain 70% of our program through earned revenue generated by our Lovelady Thrift Stores and other sources of revenue. Thirty percent of our budget comes from donors to our mission: Give
- $3000 provides services for one Lovelady for an entire year
- $250 provides services for a month
- $60 provides services for a week
Investment of Social Capital
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken." -Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
As the saying goes, Be a Friend, Make a Friend, Bring a Friend to Lovelady! Each of us have friends and colleagues who may resonate with the work at The Lovelady Center. We offer monthly opportunities for you to come and bring a friend (or four) to learn more about and see the Center: lucy@loveladycenter.org