November 21, 2025
Having worked in the nonprofit world for twelve years across the Upstate of South Carolina, I’ve partnered with many communities and agencies. Pathways, however, was founded on something truly special—collaboration. It’s a word we often hear, but genuine collaboration is rarely achieved. Here in York County, it’s different. While we’re not perfect and never will be, the willingness and intentionality to work together here are genuine and strong. I feel blessed to be surrounded by like-minded people who care deeply about our community. I’ve made so many new friendships and partnerships, and I never feel alone in the work. I often receive—and make—calls just to check on others. That sense of mutual care and connection truly matters to me. After meeting with our board, partners, and community members, I realized I needed to get to know our guests on a deeper level. I’ve tried to be visible and present, but over Independence Day, I decided to “walk a day in their shoes.” That 24-hour experience was one of the most impactful moments of my time here. I have never been homeless. I’ve always lived a middle-class life, and while I’ll never fully understand every barrier our guests face, this experience gave me a glimpse. From riding the bus and sleeping in a shelter to eating at a soup kitchen, I saw just a fraction of what life is like for our guests. Most importantly, I spent meaningful time with them—listening, learning, and letting them know they are seen and valued. With the support of the Pathways Board and our partners, we’ve been able to try new things. We hosted a job fair—something done before, but this time we focused on second-chance employers along the bus route. The results were incredible: 103 job seekers attended, and many found employment. That success sparked a bigger vision. We noticed three key things—there were available second-chance jobs, an unused kitchen during the day on campus, and a need to build job skills. From that came the Culinary Workforce Readiness Program, a partnership with York Tech and Chef Teshia. This program will help our guests develop workforce skills that can lead to stable employment and independence. We’re also preparing to launch a Volunteer Chaplaincy Program, where local chaplains will be on-site daily to offer a listening ear, encouragement, and spiritual support to both guests and staff. Alongside these efforts, we’ve worked diligently to strengthen campus safety and security through better processes and partnerships. The past six months have been a rollercoaster of emotions—joy and pain often side by side. Some days, we celebrate guests who secure jobs, move into apartments, begin a relationship with Jesus, or simply take a positive step forward. On those same days, we also encounter setbacks: a guest making a poor choice, a new arrival in crisis, or a facility issue on campus. Every day is full of planned meetings and unexpected moments. We celebrate progress while wrestling with the ongoing challenges in our continuum of care. Through this journey, my understanding of the need has deepened. Right now, our math simply doesn’t add up. On average, 45 new guests walk through our doors each month, and about 15 find their way to self-sufficiency. I once heard someone say, “All they need is a job.” At one time, I might have believed that. Now, I know it’s not that simple. Every guest’s journey is unique, and many of their steps depend on factors beyond our control—paperwork, systems, and barriers that take time to overcome. But no matter what brought someone to our door, they are all God’s children, and we are called to serve them. As I reflect on these first six months, I am encouraged by the progress happening on campus. I am grateful for the new friendships and partnerships that have formed, and I am inspired by the resilience of our guests. My prayer is that I continue using my spiritual gifts to make a difference—that my actions reflect the Lord I am grateful to serve, and that others see and feel that I care. Jesus’ words in Matthew 25 remind me daily why Pathways exists. We are called not only to meet immediate needs—to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, and welcome the stranger—but also to help people change their lives. I don’t want to simply meet people where they are; I want to help them move forward. At Pathways, we walk with each guest on their journey—meeting needs as Jesus taught us to do, but also helping them grow, heal, and find hope for a better tomorrow.
