Client Testimonials

The stories we bring you are a testament to the strength that women and children have to overcome tremendous conflict and painful realities.  

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Samantha's Story

Stephanie’s Story

A Safe House Experience

Charlotte’s Story

Joanne's Story

Ronda's Story

Tracy and Family

 

Samantha’s Story

I am a member of the WINGS program. I wanted to take time and let you know how beneficial this program has been for me and my daughter. I came into WINGS in September. I was pregnant and had nowhere to live and had no money. I had decided to keep my daughter from the start of my pregnancy. I truly believe that if it weren’t for WINGS I wouldn't be able to write you this letter, let alone have a beautiful, healthy baby.

WINGS helps you gain confidence and strength to deal and function in today’s society successfully. I just wanted you to know that my background is upper-middle class. I was born and raised in the northwest suburbs. I’m a high school graduate and have some college. I want you to know that homelessness doesn’t just pertain to low income, uneducated substance abusers or just plain lazy people. Bad things happen to good people too.

Since I grew up in the suburbs I was ignorant to homeless shelters. I assumed the shelters had drug users and vagrants. I was truly frightened when I called. It was comforting to know that the WINGS program wasn’t anything like that. I lived in a big house – not a big hall with cots lined up.

I had chores such as cleaning bathrooms, or the living room. I also cooked one night a week. I was truly like living with a family in a home! In knowing this little bit of information I hope you continue in your support of WINGS. It is something to be proud of.
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Stephanie’s Story

Before I arrived at WINGS, I was in an abusive home with my young son. I made many phone calls and inquiries after a violent incident. I was in touch with several organizations but all of them told me to go to a shelter.

The thought of exposing my son to a small dirty place with many, many mothers and their children was not what I felt would be best for my son.

Just when I was ready to remain in my situation as I'd done many times before, for the same reason, the Township put me in contact with WINGS.

The staff assured me that we would be in a safe, clean environment. We arrived at the shelter that weekend. I was very scared and my son was unsure of everything. We were greeted with open arms and hearts from all the staff members and volunteers.

During my stay at WINGS many setbacks occurred in my life including getting laid off from my job, my car breaking down numerous times and dealing with my son’s father in court. The staff was there available anytime and every time I needed them.

I would like to thank all of you for giving me hope for our future and the caring I needed when I didn’t think I was worth caring for. God bless all of you!
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A Safe House Experience

The night I came to WINGS I was greeted by wonderful staff members. It seemed like they were happy that I was there. When they showed me around the shelter it looked like a palace compared to where I came from, but it felt like a home.

That night I put my two young children to sleep in a warm, safe bed and I took a hot shower in a safe bathroom. I wondered if this was what heaven would be like. I didn’t have to walk on eggshells or sleep with one eye open. I didn’t have to decide between sleeping in my car and sleeping with a man in exchange for a roof over my kid’s head at night.

I didn’t have to worry about how we would eat our next meal. Here, there were no guns, no drugs, no angry men. I was safe and no one could hurt me. The feeling was so overwhelming I shed tears that night.

Over the next few weeks my children and I began to thrive. We were no longer physically sick from the stress. WINGS provided me with counseling and resource referrals. They helped me write a resume, taught me job-seeking skills and helped me enroll in college.

When I arrived I felt worthless but the staff that worked there treated me with dignity and talked to me like they believed in me. Then I started to believe in myself.

I’m now enrolled in college, actively seeking work and moving on to the transitional housing program. I will never have to go back to the situation I came from. I will stand on my own two feet and I will not be abused. I’m so grateful for the staff, the volunteers and all the people who donate to keep the shelter running because WINGS changed my life and the life of my children.
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Charlotte’s Story

I cannot say enough about the Mentoring program through WINGS.

My mentor and I were matched up in 2002 (not sure about the date). I knew right away that I needed assistance with budgeting. For many people, money management comes easily, but for me it has always been somewhat of a challenge. As my mentor has been a CEO for many years and for more than one financial institution, she was deemed my perfect "match". I truly believe that a big part of making this program work has to do with matching people appropriately & the staff did an excellent job bringing us together.

Over the course of our relationship, my mentor has managed to bring me through many difficult times . . . the company I worked for at the time we started, had just filed bankruptcy & eventually ended up going out of business & while all of this was going on I had major surgery & eventually ended up getting laid off. My mentor was by my side the entire time. We had the option, after 6 months of participation, to discontinue the mentoring program, but she would not think of leaving me during such turmoil in my life and we continued until I had secured employment and seemed to be back on my feet.

We reconnected last April by attending a dinner for the "graduate" mentors'/mentees'. I had run into some financial difficulties once again & was on the verge of filing personal bankruptcy. I was preparing to contact my mentor anyway, but attending the dinner did it for me. Since then, she has worked very hard to help me recover from my new difficulties & we continue today to work towards a better financial situation. I can never thank WINGS or the mentoring program, or my mentor for this "gift". I don't believe I could have pulled myself out of where I was at a year ago without her help. There is no lonelier feeling then when you are afraid to reach out for help & no warmer feeling then when someone selflessly comes to your aid. Even though it can never say it all, Thank you!
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Joanne's Story

I am writing this letter to express my extreme gratitude and appreciation to all of you for the extra support that I have received after graduating from WINGS. It has been comforting to me to know that you all are still here for me if I ever were to need anything. I haven’t had that in many years.

I am mainly speaking about the continued counseling that I have been receiving. I have been out of WINGS for some time now and can honestly say that my counselor has been such a big help with me being on my own again. They’ve basically helped me realize that I am a strong enough individual to make it on my own in the future.

When I think about myself when I first came into WINGS and who I have grown to become, it makes me so proud of myself and very grateful to the staff at WINGS. Because as sad as this may sound – I didn’t know how to be proud of myself before.

Thank you so much for the shelter, meals, the car, and support but most all thank you for helping me become the strong, independent, confident, person that I am today.

I truly from the bottom of my heart love and appreciate you all for your caring hearts.

Joanne – A former resident
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Ronda's Story

Staying at WINGS has proven to be a positive experience for me. I was a victim of domestic violence . . . A phone call in desperation led me to a wonderful place called WINGS. There certainly was an element of peace, and above all else, hope. I was very impressed with all the supportive staff! They were always there for me. Services such as job placement, resume dispersal, internet job searches and ongoing individuals and group counseling helped me quite a bit.

I am very happy to see that someone finally realized that a nightmare could turn into a nice dream. I am soon to be leaving WINGS in about three weeks and hopefully moving into my own apartment with the help of supportive staff. I will remember all the wonderful things and accommodations that I had at WINGS.  

My hope is that there will always be a WINGS house for battered women, offering a ray of hope to them and their children.  

Sincerely,  

Ronda
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Tracy and Family – May 2005

I just wanted to put in writing to say thank you for providing me help when I needed it most.

When I first woke up to realize that I was in an abusive relationship, it was real scary not knowing what to do or where to go. I searched everywhere, high and low looking for someone to take me and my children in. I happened to get on the internet and found the WINGS website and thought I had died and gone to heaven. I couldn’t believe that GOD had answered my prayers for help.

When I told my children that I had found somewhere for us to live, they were excited but afraid of the change as well.

I remember walking in the Stage 1 house in Park Ridge; we were welcomed by Mary and the other women who were home. They were so inviting and welcoming that I thought I was in the wrong house. My children and I were not used to that. It turned out to stay pleasant the whole time me and my children lived there. We loved it.

In Stage 2, when we first walked in our own apartment, my children and I were overjoyed with excitement. Especially my youngest son who made such a joyful scream that a neighbor had to knock on our door to make sure we were o.k. I reassured her that everything was fine.

In closing, I really want to thank you again for all that you have given to me, not only material things like a car, apartment, clothes, etc., but all the emotional things like strength, courage, dignity and lots and lots of love and care. I am in the process of writing a book about a woman who has overcome her abuse and plan on helping other women. You deserve the credit for giving me the inspiration. So keep on doing what you’re doing for other women in need.

Sincerely,

Tracy and Family