The place we call home is far more than a building—it’s where we experience love, companionship, and where we feel safe.
But for some youth in our community, the concept of home has always seemed far away.
In 2023, 16-year-old Henry and his brother had a sit-down meeting with their school counselor because they could no longer go back to where they lived. Henry hadn’t seen his mother in years and his father’s alcoholism created a rift in their relationship.
Until this moment, home had always seemed like a dream for Henry, moving around from hotel to hotel since he was 10 years old.
That’s when the school counselor received permission from his father to reach out to a local safe haven for homeless youth. Through support from United Way of Berks County and opportunities made possible by donors like you, Mary’s Shelter was able to offer a sanctuary for Henry and his brother with housing, education, and social service programs.
“Before I came to Mary’s Shelter my life was not good,” Henry remembers. “And I mean my entire life, not just my housing situation.”
Embracing Life’s Firsts
Before they could recover from the abuse they endured, the brothers had to settle in at Mary’s Shelter. At first, they were shy and quiet, hesitant to sleep in separate rooms.
Eventually, they each decided to take their own room—just the beginning in a long list of life’s “firsts.”
Soon, they experienced their first time going to the movies, doing chores, and cheering on the teams at baseball and hockey games.
“I learned a lot about food. Food is important when you’ve never had enough your whole life,” Henry explains. “It was my first time cooking in a real kitchen.”
But for Henry, the most important thing was home.
“It was my first time in a place that’s safe with friends and people who care. They help me when I need it and are always just ‘there’ for us. You can’t imagine how important that is.” Henry shares.
A New Horizon
As an 18-year-old high school senior, Henry has big dreams to share what he’s been given.
“After graduation, I want to go to college and become a teacher. I want to help other kids stay in school. I want them to love learning like I do and know it will be safe in my classroom, if that’s what they need.”
This youth’s journey from a homeless teen to a high school graduate applying to college is just one brief snapshot of the partnership between United Way of Berks County and frontline organizations like Mary’s Shelter.
Henry values all the support provided by Mary’s Shelter. He shares that one of the toughest parts about living there is simply “the fact that, one day, we have to leave.”
United Way of Berks County brings together people and organizations from across the region to build a stronger community for all. We accomplish this vision through four focus areas: empower youth, strengthen health, build stability, and support for families in times of crisis.
Yet, we can’t offer families hope for today and thriving for tomorrow without the support of people like you.
Ready to join us?