“I grew up questioning why I didn’t have a better life.”

Born into a chaotic environment where both parents battled addiction, Autumn was deprived of attention, guidance and essentials, and she endured bouts of physical abuse. “I went to school with bruises,” she recalls. “I was bullied a lot for not having nice clothes or the right school supplies.”

Yet she loved her mother dearly. At 10 years old, when the woman died in her arms, Autumn was devastated and began numbing her feelings with her father’s alcohol. As she grew older, with no stable role models, she adopted a toxic lifestyle that eroded her self esteem and eventually left her homeless. 

As her destructive habits continued to take a toll, she questioned what her life had become. At age 23 she was hospitalized, because she no longer wanted to live. By God’s grace, however, that was the catalyst she needed to change. 

“Finding who I am and my purpose… being happy and loving myself – those were my challenges,” she says. She came to Bridgeport Rescue Mission and knew immediately she’d found the help she needed to rebuild her life.

“I grew up always being insecure and questioning why I didn’t have a better life.”

“The moment you walk through these doors, you feel like you’ve known everyone for so long. You feel at home, safe and welcome. I was crying tears of joy!”

In our New Life Program, she’s healing from her trauma through understanding God’s Word and His promises in her life. Classes in addiction recovery, life-skills development and spiritual formation are empowering her to build a stable and godly life. “Now I wake up every day choosing the right way to live.” 

She embraces her Mission chores and volunteer opportunities as a way to give back and share her story with others. Now in transitional housing, she’s training to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA). “This place really set me up to succeed.” 

This fall, Autumn gives thanks for YOU and your incredible generosity. Your prayers and support have helped change her life. “Before coming to the Mission I was broken and hopeless. Now I’m content and I actually see a future.”

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