Testimonies
Thank you to all who give!
Garden Solutions, Inc & Fountain Church!
Saturday, February 15th, Garden Solutions & Fountain Church
Provided a serve day to give us raised bed gardens to provide a place for us to grow our own food and teach some horticulture!
We appreciate you!
Join us at Branches of Hope and see what God can do!
Thank you Sheriff
Wednesday, August 21st, 2024
Thank you Sheriff James Woodruff for donating a breathalyzer to the homeless shelter. We appreciate you and the deputies stopping by to look at the facility.
Working together to make LaGrange a safer place.
Thank you Habitat for Humanity!
January, 2025, we received a lead to a remodeling company that works with Habitat, and they assisted us in repairing our roof for a fraction of the cost compared to replacing it! Thank you Sandie Pike for your leadership and help!! We are so grateful!!
Tommy's testimony
Tommy came to us after falling on hard times. He settled in quickly and found a job at a local manufacturer working nightshift. Determined to get his life back, and he grew significantly in the next two months he stayed with us.
"The Branches of Hope homeless shelter was so helpful for me. They gave me a nice place to stay until I got a job and saved my money. Now I got my own place. I am thankful for Branches of Hope. They saved my life. Thank y'all so much."
Courtney's testimony
Last December my four children and I, ages 12, 9, 7, and 6 got kicked out of where we were staying. We had nowhere to go. We stayed in a hotel for a few days before going to the shelter. When we got to the shelter the workers made me and my children feel very welcome. They helped us in all types of ways. The workers were very helpful: they bought my babies Christmas presents when I had no clue what to get them, as I had no job. They also made little birthday cakes for them for their birthdays, which put a really big smile on my face, because it's that kindness of heart that makes the difference when you are homeless. During my stay there I grew. I found a job and started working. They helped me with my children they also helped by giving me a baby shower for my baby that is on the way.
Everyone at Branches of Hope was nice to us and we love them as if they are family. I wouldn't change this experience at all. They were a very big blessing to us. I love Branches of Hope, and I would tell anyone if they are in need that there's a place that will help them get right. Thanks for everything, Mrs. Lisa, Mrs. Brittany, Mr. Bruer, and Mr. Desmond. Y'all are the best! LOVE YALL!
Darryl's testimony
I came to Branches of Hope in December of 2023 after falling on hard times. This was my first time being homeless. I felt like there was no hope. My first night at the shelter, a staff member prepared some food for me. We talked, and he told me that there were good Christian people that would help get me back on my feet. I had no ID, no job, no money, and nothing to my name, but they said that didn't matter. They assured me that God loved me, and that they would help me through this tough time. And that's exactly what they did.
They helped me get the documents I needed. They also helped me to gain structure back in my life. When life falls apart, you must go back to the basics; do the small things, like getting up early in the morning, make your bed, create a plan for each day, and the week ahead. Doing chores daily like sweeping, mopping, washing dishes, and helping with cooking. These small everyday tasks helped to add structure to my life.
With the help of brothers at Branches of Hope, I started working on my spiritual life. I began a program called RU at a local church, and there I realized that I need to bring God back into my life. I had kept Him out far too long, and by making Him a regular part of my life, I would get back on my feet. The structure of the RU program and the staff accountability helped me gain hope and a future.
I also started attending church every Sunday, along with Sunday school. This was my missing link. Being homeless was the worst thing that ever happened to me, but it also woke me up and showed me the errors in my thinking, my behavior, and most importantly, my faith. I was baptized, so that I could testify that God has made me a new man.
This has also brought so many wonderful people into my life like, Brittany, Bruer, Desmond, and Mike who are the staff at Branches of Hope, as well as, Ms. Lisa and Mr. Vann, who are the directors of the center. Branches of Hope has played such a big role in my recovery and growth. I am and will be forever grateful for what I have gained here.