“You never know!” I talked with a young man today, maybe 15 years old, and simply asked, “What’s your story?” He looked me in the eyes and said without hesitation: “My days go like this. My parents work, and so do I. I have two sisters. We’ve live in our car off and on. Hotels here and there.” He said it so matter-of-factly, like it was normal. Like the instability of car seats instead of beds, and fast-food bags instead of a kitchen table, were just the way things go. He shared how he tries to keep up in school while carrying the invisible weight of worry no teenager should have to bear. How sleep doesn’t come easy when you're curled up in the back seat, parked in a lot, hoping no one knocks on the window. How even though it is not easy, he still shows up. Still tries. Still dreams. “I want to be a doctor one day,” he said quietly. “You never know.” And he’s right. You never know what someone is carrying. You never know who that kid in the hoodie really is. You never know which young person, currently invisible to the world, is going to grow up and change it. So, we show up too. We listen. We care. We fight alongside this future doctor… for dignity, safety and hope. Because when a 15-year-old boy, who hasn’t had a choice but to be strong, still says he wants to be a doctor? We believe him. And we remind him every chance we get! Because…. You never know! #themissionwh #weare180 #winterhaven #HiddenHomeless #DignityForAll #YouNeverKnow #HopeInTheHard #BelieveInThem #FutureDoctor #HopeBeginsWithAHand (fb)

MATCHING GIFT UPDATE: We're at 41% — and counting! As of today, we have raised $41,541.50 toward our $100,000 Matching Gift Goal and we’re less than 10 days away from the finish line! WOW!!! We can do it! We are so encouraged by the momentum and the mission-minded hearts standing with us. It's very exciting. Together, we are making Hope happen. A heartfelt thank you to the donors who have already given so far: 💙 Centerpoint Community Church 💙 Chad and Stephanie Barron 💙 Charles and Jan Mutz 💙 Christ Community Church 💙 Doug and Tammy McPherson 💙 Galina Hitching 💙 Homer and Annette Thompson 💙 William and Jennifer Thornton 💙 Kairos Church 💙 Kathy Burkett 💙 Lisa Floyd 💙 LJ Cordero LLC 💙 Reginald Scoggins 💙 Spirit Lake Community 💙 Tanya Cason 💙 Sally Long 💙...and those of you who prefer to remain anonymous. You know who you are! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! There’s still time to Double your Donation — every dollar given is matched up to $100,000! ➡️ Donate today and help us reach our goal. Click the link below now. https://secure.qgiv.com/for/100kmatch #WeAre180 #themissionwh #MatchingGiftChallenge #HopeBeginsWithAHand #WinterHaven (fb)