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Marilyn’s Dreams Are Coming True Marilyn’s future is brighter because of your support. Five years ago, Marilyn moved to New Orleans from Hammond with one thing in mind: get clean and sober. Now the 57-year-old has accomplished another goal: she is a high school graduate. The mother of two knew she needed help with her sobriety. She felt like she was never going to be someone that her children could rely on or want in their lives again. That is when she made the decision to relocate away from her family and friends to seek care for her addiction. As a result, she found her way to Volunteers of America’s Tulane Avenue Single Room Occupancy program. Once there, she continued her recovery care by attending meetings, working with case workers, and rediscovery of her faith. During one of these meetings, Marilyn mentioned that she always regretted dropping out of school. She was encouraged to enroll in St. Vincent de Paul’s Adult Learning Center to begin courses in attaining her goal. St. Vincent’s offers one-on-one assistance to adults working towards their GED. “Marilyn was very dedicated in achieving her GED,” said Sister Bonita Sniegowsk, director of St. Vincent de Paul Adult Learning Center. “She would come to every appointment eager to move on to the next section.”
Marilyn’s two children are now back in her life, and she is someone they can count on to be there for them. “I am so grateful to Volunteers of America and St. Vincent’s for caring so much for me and my wellbeing,” said Marilyn. “I am proud to say that my kids now say, ‘we got our mama back,’ and it is all because of the people He brought into my life. Without God’s grace, I wouldn’t be alive today.” In February, Marilyn moved into her own “I am so grateful to Volunteers of America and St. Vincent’s apartment and started for caring so much for me and my wellbeing.” —Marilyn taking typing and computer classes at St. Vincent’s.