Member Stories
“My 4EVERKIN family has been profoundly impactful in my life since I was 19, providing a vital support system I otherwise lack. Now, at 33, they continue to inspire me with innovative ways of thinking and overcoming challenges, teaching me that no matter how strong I am, having a support system is truly pivotal.” - DJ
“When I was pregnant and scared to be a mom 4EVERKIN reassured me that I will be an amazing mom and they remind me every chance they get how proud they are of me and how amazing and smart my daughter is. I honestly don’t know what I would do without them in our lives” - HR
HR has been part of our community since she was 18. Over the years, she faced many of the challenges that come with building an adult life, including finding stable housing, establishing a career, becoming a parent, and navigating systems that can be tough to manage alone.
During one particularly difficult season as a young mother, 4EVERKIN helped her connect with legal resources, gather the information she needed to advocate for herself and her daughter, and stay focused on the future she was working to build.
The support HR needed at 18 looks very different from what she needs
today at 33, and our relationship has made room for both. What began as mentoring grew into a trusted relationship, someone to call before making an important decision, celebrate graduations and milestones with, and help navigate setbacks along the way.
Most recently, with her daughter now in kindergarten, she began exploring a return to school to finish her social work degree. She reached out to talk through her options and next steps, and we are working on that game plan together now.
The process is the goal, not the outcome.
“Having 4EVERKIN provide me a computer while attending school has had a huge impact, offering me significant advantages for both academic performance and personal development”
GW joined 4EVERKIN in 2012 when she was 20 years old. Two years later, she became a mother, and we quickly saw the incredible parent she was becoming: fiercely devoted, a natural caretaker, and endlessly resourceful.
When her son turned one, she brought a Mickey Mouse birthday cake all the way from Grand Central to an apple orchard so we could celebrate him and sing Happy Birthday together.
Over the years, GW has faced challenges that touched nearly every part of life, from housing and immigration concerns to health, education, and raising a growing family. Through it all, she has remained focused on creating stability for her children and showing them that hard things can be faced, goals are worth pursuing, and giving up is not an option.
Along the way, we have helped GW navigate housing challenges tied to replacing critical immigration documentation, stood beside her as she advocated for her son during a crisis, and supported her through medical assistant training and getting her driver’s license.
Today, GW is working as a medical assistant and hopes to one day be an advocate for women in crisis. Knowing the encouragement and support she already offers other mothers in 4EVERKIN, that feels like a natural next step.
What happens when we stay.
“Being a part of the Junior Advisory Board (JAB) has brought peace. I was going through a lot of different stressful things, and the opportunity came at just the right time.”
“4EVERKIN helped me to get my life back on track after I left the hospital after a crisis.”
“4EVERKIN has been more than an organization, it has been family. They supported me and my children with essentials, emotional encouragement, and the confidence to believe in myself again.”
“They have supported my journey of trying to obtain my GED and helped me navigate challenges with my children. 4EVERKIN has been an incredible support system over the last few years.”