Success Stories

Yolanda's Story - Coming Back to MELD

My mother brought me to MELD in 1993 as a pregnant teenager. MELD gave me shelter with rules to abide by, such as keeping your apartment clean and doing your part in the kitchen. They also taught me about laundering my clothes and bedding, cooking, and many other necessary life skills.

MELD enrolled me in their employment program and I was able to land a job in the checking department at First Federal on Main Street. I did not have the proper attire to wear to work, so MELD assisted me with getting business professional suits and casual business wear. MELD also supplied me with bus tokens to get to and from work.

MELD helped me sign up with Rockford Housing Authority to get a home. After several months on the waiting list I was able to move out of the shelter and into my own apartment in Blackhawk Housing.

After my baby was born, I continued to be involved with MELD and the women at MELD, including Sue White, Fran Middleton, and Karen Tilly. I went to many of the support groups that MELD offered for parent/child interaction and other young parent support groups.

I expressed to MELD that my anger was out of control and I needed help. MELD got me into counseling sessions for my anger and I slowly became a better person.

Being a teenage mother was never easy for me. Living on my own and having the responsibility of paying my bills and getting to and from work without transportation was hard. I would get up everyday at 5:00 a.m. to catch the bus. I had to catch one bus to the daycare and then walk a mile to catch another bus to my job. I would do this daily, through rain, sleet, or snow. I remember many times I would arrive home at night and take my daughter’s snowsuit off only to find her tiny feet freezing from the cold, and I would cry. I had many trials and tribulations throughout my single life, but there was hope! I want to stress that glimpse of hope to the current teenage mothers who are walking in my footsteps.

Today, I am a happy, healthy, married mother of five wonderful children. I recently graduated with Honors from Rock Valley College with an Associates Degree and I am currently attending NIU in DeKalb to obtain my B.S. in Accounting. I am employed part time at Samco Promotional Products as a bookkeeper. My job offers very flexible hours. I hope to land an internship and ultimately obtain my Masters Degree and sit for the CPA exam.

I am so happy that MELD was available to help me. When I discovered that my church (Heartland) was volunteering to remodel MELD’s shelter, I was quick to sign up. I wanted to be able to give back a small portion of what I received from the wonderful people at MELD.

Yolanda 1-31-09