Where Help Meets Hope

OFTEN, WHAT SUSTAINS A FAMILY through a season of need is not just the practical resources they receive but a connection with someone who can walk alongside them in their journey. When care is coupled with compassion, vulnerability and presence, it allows genuine relationships to take root. This kind of support does more than address immediate hardship. It restores dignity, invites courage and reminds people they are not alone. This is the kind of care Lily encountered through relationships formed at STCH Ministries. 

In the fall of 2025, Lily was full of anxiety for the months ahead. Her husband had been laid off months earlier, and despite many applications, he had not found another job. By November, their family was feeling the strain of unemployment. The family’s finances were stretched thin, and the pressure felt insurmountable. Lily and her husband had six children, ages two to eleven, and she began to wonder how she would meet her family’s needs. “I had to adjust,” Lily reflected. “I had to get out of my comfort zone to help my kids and family.” 

For Lily, that adjustment began in a counseling session. Lily had been meeting with her counselor, Katie Jo, through STCH Ministries for nearly two years. Through counseling, Lily had already experienced the steady, compassionate presence of someone who had walked with her through life’s challenges. Now, in the midst of this new crisis, Katie Jo listened as Lily shared her fears and uncertainties. 

Through Katie Jo, Lily was connected to another part of STCH Ministries that could walk with her in this difficult season: Community Ministries. 

Lily had never sought help from community resources before. She was used to being the helper. She was the one her friends and family leaned on in times of need. Finding herself on the other side of that equation stirred up feelings of discomfort. “Nobody wants to ask for help,” Lily shared honestly. “Nobody wants to be in a position to have to ask for help. We felt so much shame.” 

Still, the needs of her family outweighed her hesitation. Through Katie Jo’s referral, Lily and her husband were connected to Jólee, a social worker with Community Ministries. What Lily expected was information. Instead, she encountered a relationship. “She came to me with open arms,” Lily said. “She talked to me like she knew me. She was vulnerable with me, and that made me drop my walls.” 

Jólee began by helping Lily understand the resources available to her family, including local programs, facilities and services that could provide practical support during their season of crisis. The breadth of help surprised Lily. But even more impactful than the resources themselves was the way Jólee offered them: with patience, warmth and genuine care. 

As the holidays approached, Community Ministries provided crucial support that helped ensure Lily’s children had what they needed. With the immediate stress of provision eased, Lily and her husband were able to focus on something that mattered deeply to them: being present with their children. “We wanted to be fun for our kids and do memorable activities with them,” Lily said. “And now we get to do that.” 

As weeks turned into months, Lily and Jólee’s relationship grew beyond appointments and action steps. What began as a professional connection quickly became a friendship rooted in trust and shared understanding. “Initially, we were just strangers,” Lily reflected, “but we became friends.” 

That friendship became especially meaningful as Lily opened up about her struggles with anxiety. Tasks that might seem simple to others, like going to the grocery store, were often overwhelming for her. Crowded aisles, long lists and the pressure of stretching limited funds made each trip emotionally exhausting. 

When Lily shared this with Jólee, she found recognition and support. Together, they worked through a practical solution. They used a grocery store app to locate items beforehand and plan a single, efficient route through the store. The strategy minimized time, stress and emotional turmoil. “After that,” Lily laughed, “I knew I was never going to shop the same way again!” 

In moments like these, Lily began to see that the help she was receiving was not just about fixing problems. It was about restoring confidence and dignity. One of the most meaningful moments in Lily’s journey came during prayer. “I was listening to Jólee pray,” Lily shared, “and she prayed, ‘Lord, you know I have a tender heart.’ When she said that, I was like, oh my gosh! She’s just like me! I think I have a tender heart!” 

For much of her life, Lily had felt burdened by her emotions. She described herself as “overly emotional,” especially in seasons of stress or struggle. Hearing Jólee name tenderness as something honest and prayer-worthy shifted something inside her. “It is hard not to feel ‘overly emotional’ when you are struggling,” Lily said. “It was nice to bond with somebody who is also emotional and to see that it is perfectly okay to have a tender heart. I felt like I could be myself.” 

Through their conversations, Lily opened up about her experiences in counseling, her struggles in work and relationships and the ways past hurt had shaped her reactions. In return, Jólee shared pieces of her own story, including a time when she had been in a similar position of receiving help and guidance that empowered her to find her footing again. “Jólee reminded me of what I could be if I were uninhibited and fully healed from the hurt I have experienced,” Lily said. “I was inspired by Jólee because she is like me.” 

With Jólee’s support, Lily began to see tangible growth in herself. She gained a better understanding of her family’s budget, including recognizing how much they were spending on gas and how to plan for that expense. 

Today, Lily’s husband has part-time employment, and Jólee continues to walk alongside the family, helping them explore additional job opportunities and resources as they work toward greater stability. The impact of Community Ministries extends far beyond finances, though. Because of the assistance and guidance they received, Lily and her family were able to travel for Thanksgiving to visit her husband’s grandfather, who is battling cancer. The trip was deeply meaningful, offering precious time together during an uncertain season. “I’m grateful that we were able to be part of these things because of STCH Ministries,” Lily said. 

Looking back, Lily describes her relationships with both her counselor, Katie Jo, and Jólee as “unlikely friendships.” One met her in emotional healing, the other in practical crisis, but both offered the same foundation of presence, compassion and trust. Through open arms and shared humanity, Lily found not only help but hope. As she continues her journey toward healing and stability, she carries a vision for the future where she can offer the same kind of support she once needed.