My name is Jama. I was recently a graduate from the Bridge to Hope program with the Merced County Rescue Mission. My journey to the place where I am now was paved with difficulty and hardship. I am recently divorced and had a mental break after the split. My kids were kept from speaking to me, and I was lost, homeless, and broken-hearted. I ended up in a psychiatric facility where I spent some time getting stable. From there, I was referred to the Merced County Rescue Mission’s Bridge to Hope program. I was greeted with kindness and an enthusiastic attitude from staff with the Mission. It made me feel at ease during the transition to the Home I was placed in. Yes! A home! I could not believe that the shelter I would be living in was an actual HOUSE! We set goals for me to accomplish, and I was able to stay at the Bridge Home and continue to work on myself. I am now able to speak to my children, have a vehicle, have an incredible job, and was able to save money to move out into my own home! I have another job offer for an even more amazing opportunity already and have HOPE that my future is bright!

Thank you, Merced County Rescue Mission for seeing me as a human that needed a hand up and not a handout!

God is so GOOD!

-Jama