Success Stories

This morning, I received a lovely note from one of our staff members who has been with the Gateway Center for many years. This is the story of a young woman who experienced a transformation thanks to the dedication of our staff. I hope Tina's story inspires you as much as it has inspired us here at GWC! In the words of Ms. Gloria Brewer, Client Service Aid: I ran into a former client on the westbound MARTA Train Tuesday night, March 17, 2015.  This young lady's name is Tina and she was in the Women and Children's Program on the main floor at Gateway several years ago before Gateway was converted into an all men's residential center. This young lady was in her early 20's at the time and was going through some hardship; struggling with her identity and the challenges that come with being a young adult.   She was unemployed, very opinionated, and frustrated about her living conditions. Tina was a very difficult and troubled young lady.  She was a person who didn't like following the protocols that were required of the women who were seeking assistance from Gateway. Mrs. Sandra Austell--a Client Service Aid who worked on the 1st floor in the Women and Children's Program--befriended this young lady. Ms. Austell was able to get Tina to listen and respect those who were working so diligently on her behalf to help end her homelessness situation. After, counseling, and being mentored by Ms. Austell,  Tina began to change her disposition and her attitudes toward the staff in the Women and Children's area. Thanks to Ms. Austell, Tina left Gateway with a new and  positive attitude toward life. On March 17th when I ran into Tina on the Westbound train, I saw a new and improved beautiful looking young woman.  She looked so happy, energetic, and full of life--not at all like the young woman I had met several years ago in the Women and Children Center refusing to cooperate with staff. Tina shared with me while on the train that she is now working for CDC. I was so impressed how beautiful and professional she looked! Tina told me to be sure that I tell Ms. Sandra Austell that she is doing well and is working for CDC. When I arrived to work that night, I was ecstatic and couldn't wait to tell Ms. Austell the exciting news regarding her success. Ms. Beal, I share this story with you because this is one of the many stories that I hear everyday.  The wonderful work that the staff here at Gateway does everyday in helping to change the lives of those who are experiencing homelessness. Please continue to share the stories of the clients and please include the staff and their dedications in helping to end homelessness. Thank you, Ms. Brewer, for sharing Tina's story! And a huge thank you (now and always) to Sandra Austell and all of our amazing staff here at GWC who work so hard every day to change lives and end homelessness for each and every person who walks through our doors.

By: Staci Wright When I was first introduced to Donny Hampton, I could tell that he was the kind of person I could sit and talk with all day long. So when he agreed to an interview with me, that is exactly what we did. Donny grew up in Miami, Florida and shared stories of his childhood, his love for his mother and his passion for cooking at the young age of 7. As he showed me a scar on his ankle, he explained the story behind it.

One of my favorite programs as a kid was The Wizard of Oz. Back then, it was a 4 hour program and when it would come on my mom would let me stay up late and watch it and she would go into the kitchen and make homemade fries. The next day, I decided I would try and make some fries just like my mama did. So, I get up and I put the grease on the stove and cut the potatoes while the grease was getting hot. I then take the fries out of the water and I drop them in the scalding hot grease and the entire kitchen caught fire. I got scared, so I grabbed the pan and I tried to carry the pan out the back door and some of the grease splattered on my arm and I dropped the pan on my foot.

After that incident, Donny’s mother showed him how to properly cook and maneuver his way around the kitchen. By the time Donny was 9 years old he was preparing the family meals. By 19, he was already a manager at TGI Fridays. He worked his way through restaurants until he opened up his own soul food restaurant in Decatur, GA in 1985. His successful restaurant business came crashing down in 1987 due to problems with substance abuse and he ended up losing everything he had worked so hard for. While telling this part of his story, Donny referred to 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character." By 1991, things were looking up again. Donny got married and was working on maintaining a healthy marriage and being a supportive father to his three daughters: Tasha (from a previous relationship), Jahsiland and Natalie. As his marriage began to fall apart, though, so did he. By 2004, he was divorced and back on his destructive path of drugs and alcohol. Money was running low, jobs were difficult to obtain and he hopped from shelter to shelter. He recalled one terrifying night when he was hit in the head with a steel pipe, robbed, assaulted and hospitalized for 8 days. After being released from the hospital, Donny knew he couldn't go back to the streets because he wouldn't survive. Instead, he secured a bed in the Training and Support program at Gateway in August of 2013. He told me the story of his first meeting with his caseworker, Amanda VanDalen, explaining that,

…Once you find people who truly care about your success, you hang on to those people. You appreciate those people and you let them know in every way shape and form that you appreciate those people. We had a person who cared about us and that was motivation enough to do what I had to do.

Donny knew Amanda was someone who genuinely cared about him and his success, so he did not want to let her down. He was true to his word. Today, Donny is working as lead cook at the Peachtree Club and also as garde manger at the Sheraton Hotel. He has his own apartment and is enjoying decorating his place and getting in touch with his neighbors. “I’m so happy right now! I have my own place. I have my soberness and I’m looking forward to bettering myself in ways beyond simply having an apartment. I’m responsible for myself, I have responsibilities in my community and I have people I’m responsible to.” Since leaving Gateway, Donny has come back to visit and brought his family along for a tour; including two of his three daughters. “I wanted my kids to see what I had to go through to get back on the right track so they don’t make the same mistakes.” He wants his daughters to see him as a role model and someone to look up to and be proud of. “What I learned is to depend more on me and my skills and also to accept help from others. Help doesn't mean that you are handicapped, help means that you are getting fresh eyes; eyes with experience.” He concludes by quoting Matthew 6:33, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”