Below is client's story in her own words...

 "I first found out about HopePlace when I was working at my old job and attended one of Judge French’s Luncheons at Western Sizzlin. At one point she asked Robin to stand up and speak about HopePlace. Six months later I discovered I was pregnant. Something I never dreamed would happen to me until I got married.

 I found out I was pregnant after finals in the fall semester of my senior year of college right after my 22^nd birthday. So right after finals I was hanging out with some sorority sisters at a basketball game at UAM. We were discussing one of my sorority sister’s pregnancy symptoms and her experience. I realized I was having some of the same symptoms. I told them about it and they urged me to take a pregnancy test…you know just in case. Next thing I know my best friend and I are at Walmart about to buy the pregnancy tests when it seemed like every person I knew decided to go to Walmart that night. I felt like everyone knew what I was doing. So we vetoed Walmart and went to Walgreens. I bought two boxes. At that time I was living in the girls dorm at UAM and didn’t want to find out I was pregnant in the girls' bathroom I shared with the whole floor. So instead we went to McDonalds. The idea was either way, if I was pregnant or not we would celebrate by eating ice cream. So we went to the bathroom at McDonalds where I took a test from the stall to the counter. I began washing my hands my friend begins flipping out telling me to look at the test. It showed I was pregnant. I was in shock. I then smiled and realized I was going to be a mother... while she is freaking out. I understood her concern, all the while shocked, yet feeling a peace within knowing everything was going to be alright even though I wasn’t sure how it was all going to be alright. My mind began racing with her concerns. Needless to say we left with no ice cream.

That night I told the baby’s father I was pregnant and he was excited at first, not even a month later was with another woman and her two kids and have been ever since.

I have no family to turn to. I grew up in foster care and have been on my own since I was seventeen. All I knew was that I needed to get on Medicaid and WIC, move out of the dorm and quit my job so I wouldn’t miscarry the baby performing job duties. That was it, I was lost, I had no idea how I was going to accomplish all of those tasks or where to begin. Then I remembered the luncheon and Robin speaking about HopePlace.

I walked into HopePlace January 4, 2011 helpless, hopeless, lacking in faith and lost. I sat down on the couch and asked Robin what services were offered once she explained the program I asked if I qualified for the services while bawling my eyes out thanking God that I found a place to help me. I began attending Bible Studies and taking pregnancy classes, birthing class, breast feeding classes, and life skills. A month later I was an employee for HopePlace. I never knew that coming in that day would forever change my life.

Since being a part of HopePlace I have grown spiritually, have matured, and have become more active in church. I have found a great support network in HopePlace in the employees and volunteers. Each time I have had a need, it has been met.  They have assisted me in finding and furnishing an apartment, baby proofing the apartment. HopePlace has helped me meet the needs of my child. We are talking, not only diapers and wipes, but clothes on his back to medicine I couldn’t afford, special formula to pacifiers and blankets! People who are not my own family are there for me more than my own family has been. HopePlace has taken me in, I have strong Godly women to look up to and to turn to for guidance. I would not be where I am at today if it wasn’t for all HopePlace has done for me. I will always have a special place in my heart for HopePlace!"