2026 Oct #1
By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF)
When we think we have “all our ducks in a row,” so to speak, our bodies and minds run smoothly, and we feel content. That’s comfortable for us.
However, that’s not always the way life goes. There are days when everything seems to fall apart.
When we experience unpredictable circumstances, we are usually moved into a stressful mindset – which can cause an enormous amount of anxiety. That’s never fun. We don’t like that feeling at all.
The body was not created to handle stress. But, we do try to “handle” it. Stress is a natural physical and emotional response to the demands, challenges, or threats that may move the body into “overdrive,” for lack of a better term.
Our brains move into high gear as we try to maneuver the obstacles thrown into our path.
But, imagine if that was a daily situation?
Unfortunately, that kind of stress is felt every day for most homeless people. They have urgent questions and concerns, like:
Where do I find safety?
Where do I get food?
Where do I sleep?
Where do I find transportation?
The questions could go on and on. It’s a deep subject matter, with lots of concerns.
Many homeless people are alone, as well, for one reason or another. Isolation can be overwhelming. The person feels alone on the inside as well as the outside. That reality hurts our hearts.
Donna (not her real name), one of our guests, needed to have the stress removed from her life and she needed to feel like she was important.
Here’s her story:
My story is heavy and not pretty. I was adopted at birth. The couple who took me in were not good people, let alone good parents. I was abused emotionally, mentally, and physically – including being locked in closets and punished for the choices made by the other kids there. I was so glad when I was finally removed from that home.
Then, I moved from one foster care home to another. When I was eight years old, I was sexually abused by one of the boys in the home I was in. He was 13. That was allowed for several years. I had no one to protect me.
After a while, I was adopted by another couple who just needed someone to be present in the home with the wife while the husband traveled for work. They put me through high school, but there didn’t seem to be any real love involved.
Abuse just seemed to follow me…
After graduating, I was raped. Later, I went into the navy, and wound up as a single mom. Then, I tried the army…and was accosted by one of the men. I knew there had to be more to life than abuse and heartache…but I couldn’t find it.
Over the years, I’ve had six children. It was a struggle, for sure. I dealt with a full-term, still-born birth, depression, and low self-worth. I feel like I’ve always been searching for something or someone to help me. When my children were old enough to make it on their own, they didn’t need me anymore. I couldn’t make it on my own, so I became homeless.
I searched for a place that could take me in, and I was hoping there was a program that could help me get my life fixed. I didn’t know what that really meant, but I was so happy to hear that Joy Junction could help me.
I’m on a new journey and am grateful for the security I feel here. The program is Bible-based, which is new to me. I’m learning a lot and look forward to hearing more about God’s love. I’m thankful there’s a place like this where I can feel safe.
We never know what kind of background, pain, or heartache our guests will arrive with once they step through our doors. But, we know there is definitely a story behind their homeless status.
The many questions that arise in situations like this can cause a person to shrink into themselves, hide from the reality of their circumstance, and move into a depressed state. That does not have to be the case, though.
We truly want people to understand that there IS a way out of their current situation. But, until they reach that point, we want them to know that we do care and have ways of helping them.
One of the ways we like to help them is by celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday, in a family fashion, with them – free of charge.
The day before Thanksgiving (at the convention center), we set up tables for our guests and serve them a meal of turkey, with all the trimmings, along with pie and coffee.
Our annual citywide holiday feast event is available for anyone who is homeless, hungry, or does not have the means to cook a special meal.
We want each person who attends our feast to feel like part of a family unit as they enjoy a special meal. We want them to know they are important.
We truly do have a heart to serve, and we hope the event reassures them that we care. It’s our desire to encourage each attendee, whether they are homeless or not.
We also want them to know that we are an organization that welcomes the opportunity to help them turn their lives around.
Once they choose to arrive on our campus, we strive to help them feel comfortable and make sure they have their needs provided for. That includes feeding them, providing a bed for them, and making sure they feel safe.
Then, we encourage them, through our programs, to learn how to replace their uncertain life situation with stability…one day at a time.
It does take time. Effort is involved. But, if they are willing to put the time into the program, and learn from the curriculum, they can fulfill the requirements and graduate.
A whole new world can be opened up to them as they seek employment and housing of their own.
That’s our goal for them.
We are thankful for the many donors and volunteers who help us accomplish all that we do.
