"Before I came to Hope it was a very difficult time in my life. I lost my family and when that was taken away I felt so alone and empty. The holidays didn't fill me with joy because something was missing and I had no one to belong to. When I came to Hope I met a lot of other people who were in similar situations and it was good to know that I wasn't the only one who felt alone in this world. What got me through the holiday season last year was being at Hope and reaching out to my Hope family. It felt good to see so many people I didn't even know come to Hope and volunteer their time to make our Christmas special. They made us laugh and feel comfortable and loved – like we were at home. Of all the activities they had at Hope last year, my favorite part was people being here and making me feel like I was with a family. They decorated and made everything festive. I loved the Christmas trees and all the lights! It really helped me to enjoy the season as much as possible. I really appreciate the staff at Hope. I trust them and that is a new thing for me. They make me feel comfortable and show me that I am not the only one dealing with hurt and loneliness. The staff are very interactive with residents and I know they love me and can relate with me because they are so open and honest with their lives. They share with me that they struggle with anger and hurt too, and I know I'm not alone. They are showing me that we are all broken people who have problems and I deeply respect them."