{"id":1481,"date":"2022-08-01T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-01T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bowery.org\/updates\/?p=1481"},"modified":"2026-01-21T21:56:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T21:56:19","slug":"cherrises-hope-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bowery.org\/updates\/2022\/08\/cherrises-hope-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Cherrise\u2019s hope story: \u201cThanks to The Bowery Mission, I found a new me\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In her time of need, friends like you helped give Cherrise hope and a fresh start<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Cherrise moved to New York City during her last year of high school. After earning her GED, she enrolled in college and completed two Associate\u2019s degrees while working. Unfortunately, Cherrise lost her apartment just as her student loan payments were due. At the same time, she and other coworkers were laid off from work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When most people would get discouraged, Cherrise pushed herself to remain positive. She found a shelter where she could stay and volunteered there while trying to find a job. \u201cI\u2019m sort of an independent person. I want to try and see if I can do it myself,\u201d Cherrise says. \u201cGod doesn\u2019t give you stuff you can\u2019t handle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the pandemic began, the shelter where she was staying filled up. For a while, Cherrise slept on chairs. \u201cI was scared. Everything was closing down. It was just me by myself fighting through when COVID-19 hit.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Finally, a safe place at The Bowery Mission<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cherrise kept trying to make the best of a tough situation. She found a job as an essential worker doing food deliveries. It was hard work: she was on her feet walking for hours each day, wearing her backpack because she didn\u2019t have a safe place to leave her belongings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thankfully, that was when someone she had become friends with came to The Bowery Mission and told Cherrise she should come too. \u201cI came to The Bowery Mission in October of 2020,\u201d says Cherrise. After a brief stay in our overnight shelter, she entered the Mission\u2019s Residential Program for women. \u201cWhen I first walked through the Red Doors, I was really surprised. This place was really nice! My favorite place here is the kitchen. I just love cooking and this kitchen is perfect for it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She appreciated how helpful the Mission staff were as she transitioned to a new place. \u201cThey would check up on me, ask if I\u2019m doing okay. They gave great advice with a sense of humor, as well as support for my career and finances. I was really thankful for it.\u201d At The Bowery Mission, Cherrise was able to work on becoming financially stable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Cherrise<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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“At The Bowery Mission, I’ve learned that even though a door is closed, there’s always a new door that opens somewhere. There are always new avenues, always somewhere that you can get the help that you need.”\u00a0\u00a0\u2014 Cherrise<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

A new foot forward<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cherrise also says, \u201cHere I learned a lot about being at peace with God. We had chapels on Mondays for a whole hour. I enjoyed it, even after coming home so tired from work.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, Cherrise has graduated from our Residential Program, and she has her own apartment. \u201cI am so glad that this program has helped me through everything that I went through and helped me put a new foot forward,\u201d says Cherrise. \u201cI\u2019m taking everything I learned through this program with me.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cherrise plans to get a degree in psychology, then a Master\u2019s degree so she can open her own practice focused on child psychology. “I want to be able to share my experience with other people and to say, \u2018it\u2019s OK to be in a slump…it\u2019s going to be OK.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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