Earlier this year, a message came through our social media. Usually, it’s either a cry for help or an offer of support through donations. But this time, it was something different—something powerful.
A family member of one of our guests reached out to share a message that stopped us in our tracks:
“I have to say, without your time and support, my daughter’s father would be in the gutters. He’s an alcoholic, and I’ve tried everything to help, but without alcohol, he just can’t function. He comes to you for his meal a day, and thank goodness for that—because otherwise, he’d be surviving on ginger biscuits. He always tells me how you’ve listened to him at times, so I just want to say thank you. Thank you for feeding him and for listening. For his daughter’s sake.”
It was a powerful reminder. The people who walk through our doors aren’t just “guests.” They are fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters. Each with a story. Each with someone who cares about them, even when life is at its hardest.
As we thanked her for sharing her words, she left us with one final message:
“Don’t ever give up. You are all doing such a great job. The community would be lost without you.”
That’s why we keep going. That’s why Matthew’s House exists.