Fifteen percent of Americans, 45.8 million people, now rely on food stamps. According to the report from the Department of Agriculture, that number is up 8.1% from last year. The numbers are even higher in Kentucky, where 19.4% of the population receives assistance from the food stamp program.

In September, Julie opened the Garden Shoppe. It is a store in the basement of the Gardens at Greenup Apartments. Some Welcome House clients live at the Gardens while they further their education to obtain a college degree or vocational certificate. Residents earn points to spend in the Shoppe by achieving goals in their case plans.

When Julie started this summer, the store space was empty and looked like a run down old basement. She recruited friends, family members, neighbors and students from Highlands High School and Newport Central Catholic to help support her effort. Julie now has a team of eight regular volunteers called the Gardens Girls. She also found 50 short term volunteers. These volunteers managed to get enough donations to fill the store!

Julie Dupont & Theresa Bergmann

The Shoppe recently hosted a Halloween party and gave a costume to every child who needed it. The Girls are also planning events for Thanksgiving and Christmas. What Julie and the Gardens Girls are doing is more than volunteering. They are changing lives. Julie knows most of the residents on a first name basis, she helps mentor one of the families, and is personally invested in their success. It is impressive how many people she was able to recruit to join her journey. 

Fifty-one children currently live at the Gardens at Greenup. Their parents are able to set an excellent example by working hard to achieve their dreams of obtaining an education. Welcome House works to help individuals and families become more stable to avoid facing homelessness again. All of this is possible because of Julie and the other wonderful volunteers who work with this organization every day. We are so thankful to have all of them!

I never thought I would end up homeless at age 54. I had never needed help from anyone before I lost my apartment. I was self-sufficient. I couldn't have even imagined what being homeless feels like.

Becoming homeless has been an eye-opening experience for me. Before I became homeless, I always pictured a homeless man as having a haggard beard and a dirty face; digging through garbage and sleeping under the bridge. Little did I know that I, myself, would be able to see homelessness firsthand every time I look in a mirror.

Before I came to Welcome House, I had a hard time finding an agency that cared about me as a person. Welcome House has allowed me to grow as a person and learn to appreciate those in need. I realize now that Welcome House works not to provide band-aid services to people, but instead fosters long term skills to help strengthen that person to conquer their battles, fears, and hardships to maintain a self-determined lifestyle. Without the Welcome House, my battle to get back on my feet may have never been won. Welcome House has helped me feel like me again as a person. Not just as a homeless man, but as a man who is now on the path to success.