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You hear stories now and then about someone who simply disappears, only to pop up somewhere far away with a new identity and living a whole new life.

Nancy’s story is like that, except that she didn’t choose to drop out and start over.  She came to Together We Cope in January from a crisis shelter, where she’d been housed for several months to prevent further injury to her from a violently abusive home life. Her two teen daughters were placed with other family members temporarily, and her 10-year-old son was living at the shelter with her. Nancy managed to put some furniture into storage before fleeing her home, but she’d just lost all of it due to nonpayment of storage costs. She pretty much had the clothes on her back and a few items given to her at the shelter. She had no home, no job and no possessions.

But she wasn’t alone in the winter cold. Strangers and angels were on her side. Together We Cope went to work with other agencies to create a new life for Nancy and her children. She came to see us with her son, who hovered protectively over his mother during the interview and guided her in answering some of the counselor’s questions.    I’ve seen that before,” our counselor reflected. “Children grow up very fast in these situations and often take on the role of decision maker.”

Nancy had made some decisions of her own and was quietly resolute about her future. “I’m going to work two jobs, one in the morning and one in the evening. I’ll be home in the afternoon to see my kids do their homework and get a good dinner, and then the older girls will stay home with their brother while I’m at my second job. We will make this work,” Nancy declared.

With those two jobs and some help from another agency in locating an affordable apartment, Nancy was on the road to self-reliance. We were there to help her meet some immediate needs: groceries, clothing, home furnishings and money for an apartment security deposit.

In fact, as word got out at Together We Cope about Nancy’s situation strangers got involved. A woman browsing in the Sensible Shop learned about some items being reserved for a client leaving a shelter and starting over. “I’ve been there,” the woman said. “I’ve been in a shelter. Let me help.” Learning Nancy needed a television set, the woman went out and got one and left it at the shop for Nancy.

Together We Cope worked with another agency to find beds for the family, and provided bedding and household items from the Sensible Shop.