Beatrice Webster is a single mother who has found herself homeless twice in her life, but after joining the Pathway of Hope initiative at The Salvation Army of Jackson MS, she and her children now live in their own home and she works at a job she enjoys.

There were times I felt like giving up but I couldn’t. My kids were my motivation so I couldn’t give up.

“There were times I felt like giving up but I couldn’t. My kids were my motivation so I couldn’t give up,” says Beatrice. “This last time that I was homeless, me and my kids, slept in a building and it was cold. And during that time, it just really was an eye-opener. I just felt like I had to go harder and keep doing for my kids.” And that she did, starting with turning to The Salvation Army for help to get—and keep—her life on the right track. “Ever since then, everything has been going great—the kids are happy, I’m happy.” When asked what advice she would give to others in similar situations, she said, “I would tell them to most importantly pray and to keep faith. And (go to) places like The Salvation Army to use the resources that are here. Nothing is really given for free. Work hard and do what you have to, to get out of that situation.” She added, “I would like to tell The Salvation Army ‘thank you.’ And that’s for me and my family because without them, I really don’t know where I’d be right now.