Mary arrived at Settegast in Houston, Texas carrying more than most people could manage quietly. She had been doing odd jobs, cleaning a church where she could find the work, but the hours were not enough to cover the demands of daily life. Her car had broken down, and the parts she needed were backlogged with no clear timeline for repair. Without transportation, a scheduled court date loomed as a serious and stressful threat. On top of it all, Mary carried a gap-filled resume and the particular anxiety that comes from wanting to re-enter the workforce but not knowing how to begin. She came into the Rainbow office more than once just to talk, not yet fully understanding what Rainbow could offer her, but trusting the space enough to keep showing up.
MaThat trust made all the difference. Millie Edwards, Rainbow's on-site Resident Services Coordinator at Settegast, saw the full picture of what Mary needed and responded on every front. Millie worked with Mary to build and strengthen her resume, taking the time to help her frame her experience with confidence. When Helping Hands, an on-site partner organization which provides home-cooked meals to children through after-school programs, needed to fill a position, Millie submitted Mary's resume directly. Mary was hired. Millie also connected Mary with Rainbow's partnership with Uber to arrange transportation to her court date, ensuring she appeared on time and avoided consequences which could have significantly worsened her situation.
The outcomes speak for themselves. Mary secured employment, made her court date, and found financial stability where there had been real uncertainty. However, what happened next is what makes Mary's story remarkable. As a familiar and beloved face in the community, Mary brought people in. The number of after-school meals served through the Helping Hands program at Settegast doubled, growing from 35 to 70 daily meals, because Mary encouraged families to participate. She has a genuine gift with young people, and her presence transformed the reach of a program which was already doing good work.
Rainbow is proud to have walked alongside Mary through a moment which could have gone very differently. She came in looking for help, and she stayed to become part of the solution. That is the full circle Rainbow exists to make possible.
I"f it had not been for Rainbow, my situation would have turned from bad to worse." (Mary, Settegast, Houston, TX)
