LIFT is Letting Individuals Find Themselves
I just want to tell you what LIFT is to me.
I like to create acronyms and to me LIFT is
letting individuals find themselves. I know this
because LIFT helped me to find myself. When I
first met LIFT or found LIFT or LIFT found me, it
was in March 2009. This was at a time in my life
when I felt lost and afraid. I had just completed
14 months of chemotherapy. I had separated
from the husband of 35 years for the third
time, and that’s been the last time so far. I have
two adult daughters who had moved out of
the nest. I found myself alone in a big fourbedroom house. I had totally isolated myself
from everyone and as a result of my illness, I
ended up unemployed and it was clear that I
needed a LIFT. I found myself in the middle of
a storm.
As a direct result of LIFT’s assistance, I’ve
been able to get my house out of foreclosure,
update my resume, gain employment, and
continue my education with the free computer
Angela
classes that are held at LIFT. Yes, free! There
is no co-payment and I don’t need a referral.
This has been amazing because I’ve learned
so much. I started out in the beginner’s class
and now I am proud to say that I am in the
intermediate class.
LIFT is not your run-of-the-mill social services
organization. At a time when businesses
and entities were packing up and leaving
our neighborhood, LIFT decided to park
themselves in West Philly.
With LIFT, I feel like I’m in a relationship
with family. They support me, they push me,
they educate me. They taught me how to
expand my network. From day one, we’ve
built trust with one another.
LIFT’s mission of giving people opportunities
is ringing true all throughout the States. I just
want to thank you for so generously helping
me. The LIFT-Philadelphia team helped me
discover strength that was either buried
or that I didn’t know was there. Yes, I had
accomplished many things on my own--I went
to nursing school and I had a wonderful job
at a health insurance company, but when
that storm came, I pretty much gave up on it
all. Today I am employed as a Certified Peer
Specialist where I work to help individuals get
through times of crisis.
I offer those reading this a charge. I charge
you to continue to support LIFT in order to
allow people to find their aspirations and get
through their own storm. Please continue
LIFTing. Stories like mine are what you’re
supporting. You are helping to transform lives
every single day.
Scan the QR code or visit
www.liftcommunities.org to
watch Angela tell her story
ALLEN
LIFT-PHILADELPHIA
LIFT IMPACT REPORT 2012
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