Amy’s Story

Amy’s life began a downward spiral into grief and depression after the death of her mother. Soon, she not only lost her job but all the trappings of her prior life. Amy and her three children made their way to a Phoenix homeless shelter, where she began diligently working her case plan to stabilize. Amy’s determination to succeed was recognized by her case manager who recommended her to Open Table.

Once paired with her Table at Mountain View Lutheran Church in Phoenix, a LifePlan was developed to illuminate the pathway to self-sufficiency for Amy and her children. Initially, Amy planned to pursue her Masters Degree in Social Work. With the support of her Table, Amy completed a career assessment that led her to redirect her education to Nursing. The Nursing field aligned closely with her values and interests, while offering a $70k+ salary opportunity. Dreaming of home ownership and college for her children began to feel attainable as Amy has steadily advanced her educational goals.

Nancy, the Table’s Occupation and Education Chair, described Amy this way. From the start, Amy was a real go-getter and a hard worker. She was always capable of doing a lot on her own, and has continued to do so in the process of the Table. Amy secured scholarships to help fund her education at Gateway Community College, while she continued to work part-time to support her family as a single mom.

Amy’s children have also enjoyed the friendships made with Table members and the sense of community they have found at Mountain View Lutheran Church. In addition to achieving the goals of Amy’s LifePlan, the Table has celebrated family birthdays, hosted barbecues, and carpooled the children to choir practice.

Being surrounded by a group of caring friends has propelled Amy to reach for her full potential. The Table empowered Amy to gain self-confidence, overcome obstacles and seize opportunities on her journey to full restoration to the community.