Never to have to live in a shelter again

When you are a victim of doemestic violence its hard to let go and move forward. Getting the curage to leave your abuser is so hard but harder when the reality kicks in that you have no place to go. Most women in these situations are just like me with no family or friends to help them. When I left I had no money, no job and no place to go with my children. The first time I walked into the shelter I was scared half to death. It was the lowest point of my life but there was no other option but to sleep on the streets and I had my children to think of. We’d got there late and did not have anything to eat and the staff members there said that if they opened the pantry for us other people would expect the same treatment so we went to sleep hungry. I felt like the worst mother ever. I knew though I could never go home again becuase I knew what my husband would do to me. The next morning the staff members still would not open the pantry even though my kids were franticly crying (my son was 3 and my daughter 18 months). We drank some water and I got the kids ready and we walked to the bus stop. I didn’t have change to even get on the bus so I started asking the strangers at the bus stop for spare change. Most people wouldn’t even look at me. I was embarressed beyond belief and sat down and started helplessly crying. My three year old started crying again that his tummy hurt and he was hungry. A man walked up to us at that time and handed me a $20 dollar bill and some change for the bus. I have never been so thankfull in all my life. I insisted the man give me an address to return the money to him and even though it took me almost three months I sent him a letter one day thanking him and a money order for that exact amount. To this day I think about that man. I really do believe he was a gaurdian angel and I learned an important lesson that day about life…..the most humain thing you can do is look another person in the eye. I remember that day everytime someone asks me for change or I see a homeless person panhandling. It is a hard thing asking for help from a complete stranger and there is a very deep shame you feel inside begging. I was able to get some food to feed my children for almost a week thanks to that man and he didn’t make me feel belittled or ashamed. He treated me like a human being when others just looked away or snickered at us. For that I know he will be blessed in life.