Success Stories
Stacey Cockrell
Retirement Home Cook and Hurricane Katrina Survivor
I lived in a two bedroom townhouse in Mississippi with my three kids. We came here after Hurricane Katrina to stay with my mom and her boyfriend.. We lived with them for six months before he decided he couldn't deal with my kids anymore. He didn't like children anyway. This was before we knew that my youngest had autism. My mom's boyfriend couldn't take it. One morning I got up at 5:30 in the morning and left for work. About 8:00, she calls me and says, "He's kicked everybody out, everybody has to get out." So we stayed in a hotel for two days and then at a friend's for a week. We actually drove by here and found out about this place and they told us about St. Matthew's House. We came down here. They were like, "Ya, come here, stay, no problem." It was very, very scary at first. Instead of having your own apartment you've got a room with a door that doesn't lock. It didn't take long until I figured out everybody was nice. If you'd asked me two years ago if I'd be here living like this, I would have said, "No, I don't believe it". Now that I look back, I can't believe I was there. That I went through Katrina. My life is so much better now. I'm independent. I've got a great job here in Naples. The kids are so much happier. Before, I worked all the time and at night. I never saw the kids. Now I work in the day and I see the kids all the time. They're happy. I'm happy. I've been back to school, which I never thought I would do. So with help from St. Matthew's House I have improved myself and the life for my kids so much more than I think I could have done without the opportunities that they have given me. I never thought I would be in this position like I am now.