![]()
Three families from Decatur, Illinois had their own graduation Thursday.
Not from high school or college. Instead it was from a program called Pathway of Hope from the Salvation Army. The program takes in single parents who fallen on hard times.
“Just to see the smile on his face that he has done this goal that he’s always wanted to do,” said Johnny Carter, a Pathway of Hope graduate. But it wasn’t always easy for Carter and his family. “At that point in my life couple times to where i didn’t know how a power bill. Or how i was going to pay rent,” added Carter. He thought he might be sleeping on the streets. Rent was due and his family had no where to go.Until an angel he calls Andrea saved him. “She enrolled us in a program and they really helped us to set goals and work towards these goals and check them off the list,” said Carter. The Decatur Pathway of Hope program gave Carter more than money to keep the lights on. It gave him hope. “She really needed help with rent and getting us into a new house and Andrea helped us get rent and the deposit,” said Carter. Andrea Lewin handled about 20 cases like carter’s in her career. And she says his story is a success.
“Seeing him bring me the grades that he was receiving means a lot to me because he’s very serious about it, he’s going to Richland Community College and he’s succeeding making A’s and B’s,” said Lewin, a Pathway of Hope caseworker.
The salvation army held a graduation for carter and two other families who completed the program. Familes learn everything from balancing a check book to getting their G.E.D.
“And by 6 months to a year you’re at a totally different place with your goals, with your family comma with relationships,” added Lewin.
Now that carter is done with the program he has eyes set on a different graduation, college.
His advice to people is to never give up.
“there’s good people out there in the world sometimes hard to find but they’re out there still and they’re going to lend a helping hand when you need it,” said Carter.
