Making A Difference

My name is LaSar'a Johnson. I am a full-time AmeriCorps Member with the Michigan's Campaign to End Homelessness Program. Currently, I am serving at Every Woman's Place/Webster House Youth Services, located in Muskegon, MI.
Every Woman's Place (EWP)/Webster House Youth Services (WHYS) is an agency that offers programs to battered men and women, homeless and at-risk of becoming homeless individuals, and runaway youth. Here at EWP/WHYS, I am serving as a Tenant Based Rental Assistant (TBRA). The TBRA Program helps to house homeless and at risk of being homeless families and youth in Muskegon, Newaygo and Oceana County.
During my term of service, I have had the pleasure of meeting great people, and was also able to participate in various activities. Many of the activities were very heart-warming. Some of these activities include carving pumpkins for Harvest Day, making Christmas cookies, and scrap-booking for Valentine's Day with the domestic violence survivor's children. The children had so much fun that they begged their parents to stay a bit longer. The sight of this touched my heart so much. I was happy that in the midst of such turmoil in these kids life, that for even one day, they were able to have fun.
Another occasion occurred while conducting casework to a young lady, who was an "unofficial" client. She was considered "unofficial" because our program had no additional finances to assist her with housing. As more time went by, the young lady had begun to get more and more disappointed. I attempted to keep her encouraged by congratulating her on her minor accomplishments and by also reinforcing positive attitudes, since she had had difficulty in positive reinforcement for herself. After about 3 months of active casework, the young lady shared with me that she had been interviewed and accepted for a job. During the conversation, I shared with the client that more money had opened up and that we would be able to assist her for approximately 2-3 months, if not longer. She was very excited at the fact that her luck was beginning to change; I was happy to be a part of her excitement.
One special occasion that sticks out as most meaningful to me occurred when I was given the opportunity to coordinate, along with another AmeriCorp Member, Oceana County's 1st Annual Project Homeless Connect. Myself, as well as the other AmeriCorp member had never conducted an event such as this one; however, it was an honor to be able to partake in history in Oceana's Continuum of Care 1st Annual Project Homeless Connect Food Drive. Through this event, we were able to provide 5,000lbs of food, via Feeding America in Western Michigan to 185 families, and were also able to donate 100 bags full of laundry detergent, bath soap, tissue paper, t-shirts, toothbrushes and toothpaste, and feminine hygiene products.
The Project Homeless Connect Food Drive turned out to be such a successful event. I was excited to be able to not only make history in Oceana County, but even more excited to see the expressions of gratitude on people's faces who were benefiting from out hard work and services we offered. Although it had begun to rain and get dark and chilly outside, myself, another AmeriCorp Member and the volunteers remained on site until every morsel of food had been given away. We were able to serve each and every person who had come out to participate.