Outreach Helps Make Ends Meet

Olivia and her new husband, Joseph, built their marriage on a foundation of love for family and for God.

“We spend time together,” says Olivia. “We also put the Lord first, the One that’s blessing us and keeping us going every day.”

Olivia’s daughter, Aaisha, struggles with several disabilities, including hearing impairment. During the school year, she attends the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind.

“She loves it. She came a long ways,” Olivia shares. “I’m very proud of Aaisha. She helps me out a whole lot, especially at home. Actually, she’s not just my daughter, she’s my best friend.”

Not long ago, Olivia was a single mother trying to provide for her family. She worked the overnight shift as a nursing assistant at a home for the elderly.

“10:30 to 6:30 in the morning,” shares Olivia. “I worked overtime nonstop, just trying to make ends meet. I came home tired all the time.”

Lack of proper nutrition, diabetes, and job stress all took a toll on Olivia’s health.

“They had to admit me to the hospital,” she says, “I was in a coma in ICU and I almost lost my life.”

Olivia recovered, but the financial stress of providing for her children remained.

“I could not actually pay my rent,” Olivia says. “I didn’t know if I was going to get evicted or not. I stressed a whole lot about it, wondering how I’m going to feed my children. Somedays, when I fix a meal, trying to make it last for two or three days, I don’t eat anything. You know, I just let my children eat first. And what was leftover then I ate it myself.”

In the midst of her struggles, Olivia found out about Operation Blessing partner Loaves and Fishes.

“When I’m low on budget, I go to Loaves and Fishes,” Olivia says. “They help me when I need, not just for food, also for clothes as well. They always have a smile on their face.”

Earlier this year, Olivia married Joseph, who does maintenance for a local grocery store. Olivia recently found a job with much better hours working at a different nursing home. Together, they’re able to make ends meet. Olivia says she’ll always be grateful for the help she received when she needed it the most.

“For those that give to Operation Blessing,” Olivia says, “I want to say ‘thank you’ for helping me all through my life, when I was struggling, when I didn’t have any food for me and my children. It’s a blessing. If I could just hug each and every one of ya’ll. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and I love ya’ll dearly.”