"For years, he used the most beautiful parts of me against me. It wasn’t until I was at La Salle that I was finally able to reclaim my compassion, my drive, my spark, and my purpose."

She was only 16 when a motor vehicle accident left her with a traumatic brain injury. 

"It's hard to accept that I needed to start from scratch... the thing that helped me navigate and create my new life was Catholic Social Services."

After months of living out of her vehicle unsure where to turn, Valerie found Catholic Social Services' Welcome Home program and found two "kindred sisters" in her volunteers.

For Colby and his wife, seeing their daughter’s face as they sang her Happy Birthday for the first time was their hope for a brighter future.

 Sometimes the trajectory of an entire life can be changed with one simple purchase.