Help Crossing the Finish Line
by Leslie Salinas
This is a story that powerfully demonstrates the partnership between Arms of Hope and Impact, a partnership that in this case involved working hand in hand to help a family all the way to the finish line.
Ms. Jalah Terry is a widow and single mother of an 11 yr old daughter named Angelina. Ms. Jalah was connected to Arms of Hope in 2016 after accompanying her daughter, who attended Impact’s summer-long VBS, to her parent night at Impact at the end of the summer. She approached Dennis Jaeger, one of Impact’s ministers, asking for financial resources regarding her education. She was trying to avoid having to drop yet another semester because of non-payment.
Dennis connected her with our services, and we soon learned how difficult it was for her to complete her Bachelors studies with a full time job as a waitress. Arms of Hope and Impact have supported and encouraged her family since 2016 with her education expenses and the education expenses of her daughter. She has received gas cards, Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets, and food and clothing from Impact’s Resource Center. She has acquired money management skills, parenting skills, and been emotionally supported and prayed with.
During that time Ms. Jalah managed to maintain her full time job while attending school part time. Due to lack of childcare Angelina attended school with her mom during the weekends and helped out at work after school, and in the process learned much from her mother about the power of perseverance.
Recently Ms. Jalah crossed an amazing and important finish line when she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Psychology from the University of Houston- Downtown. She hopes to work in social services with the State, has big dreams and wants to have a career that helps people. We could not be more proud of her!
