Homeless young woman gets a chance to start over due to her own hard work

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A formerly homeless young woman is getting a fresh start. She now has her own apartment and car, and it’s all thanks to her own hard work. Next, she wants to help others.

After years of sleeping on others’ couches, at St. Matthew’s House Campbell Lodge in Naples, Florida and at Youth Haven Homeless Shelter, 19-year-old Merci now has a bed to call her own. This is an emotional day for her, as she spent much of her life homeless.

“It’s still not hitting me yet,” Merci said. “I’m sure once it’s all decorated and the first night when I’m actually sleeping, it’ll be like, ‘Wow, this is mine.’ It’s exciting.”

She’ll have plenty of materials to decorate with, too. GL homes donated $2,000 to help Merci furnish her new North Naples apartment with plenty of items from St. Matthew’s House Thrift Store in Bonita Springs, Florida. A coffee maker, headboard and bar stools in the new home all belong to her.

We’re so proud of you Merci and are happy that we were able to help you make your home your own! God bless you; we know that you’re gonna be a world-changer!

View the full story from WINK News here:

https://www.winknews.com/2021/03/10/homeless-young-woman-gets-a-chance-to-start-over-due-to-her-own-hard-work

If you are in need of emergency or transitional housing and/or food assistance, you can learn more here.

To learn about volunteering, click here.

To make a donation to St. Matthew’s House, click below:

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Congratulations to Michelle on recently being presented with a Core Value Award!

Every day she works with women in our shelter as they journey towards a successful and stable future. She has a true heart for helping people.

“I work beside her, and I see her heart for the women,” said a coworker. “God uses her in ways that provide comfort, healing and encouragement to those placed in her path.”

#StMatthewsHouse #nonprofit #charity #SWFL #SouthwestFlorida #Florida #CoreValueAward #helpful #healing #EmployeeRecognition #CaseManager
CALLING ALL SPONSORS!
Be part of one of the most anticipated charity golf events in Southwest Florida! 🌟
🔗 Click the link https://stmatthewshouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/26-Golf-Sponsorship-Digital-1.pdf?utm_source=hootsuite&utm_medium=instagram&utm_campaign=&utm_content= to access our digital sponsorship form.
🏌️‍♂️ Player registration is also officially open!
Know a local business that would be a great sponsor? Tag them in the comments or help us spread the word by sharing this post!
Video Reels Teens — want a job but not sure where to start?

Join us this Spring Break for a free workshop that shows you exactly how to get hired… even if you’ve never had a job before!

📅 March 10th
🕙 10–11 AM
🌙 5:30–6:30 PM
(Choose AM or PM!)

📍 The Empowerment HUB
4330 Tamiami Trail, Naples

✨ Learn how to make a great first impression, what employers look for, and how to confidently apply with no experience.

Presented in partnership with St. Matthew’s House — empowering teens and building brighter futures.

Let’s take the next step on your journey together!
A year of generosity, growth and God’s goodness.

We’re proud to share our 2025 Annual Report! Flip through to see highlights, insights and outcomes from our last fiscal year.

View annual report; link in bio.

#StMatthewsHouse #nonprofit #charity #SWFL #SouthwestFlorida #Florida #AnnualReport
Registration is OPEN! ⛳️ Join us April 20, 2026, for the St. Matthew’s House Charity Golf Scramble at TwinEagles.

Sign up today and swing for a good cause! Link in bio.

#StMatthewsHouse #nonprofit #charity #SWFL #SouthwestFlorida #CharityGolfScramble #TwinEagles #event #golf
Join us for our 48th Justin’s Place® Recovery Program Graduation as we honor the strength, resilience, and transformation of our graduates. This milestone deserves a full room of love and support!

Please RSVP and come celebrate with us 🎉
https://app.betterunite.com/stmatthewshouse-justinsplacerecoveryprogram48thgraduationceremony?utm_source=hootsuite&utm_medium=instagram&utm_campaign=&utm_content=
Video Reels Thank you to Chick-fil-A for presenting us with a $75,000 grant through their True Inspiration Awards! St. Matthew’s House is only one of 56 winners out of thousands of applicants!

Special shoutout to the two local Chick-fil-A owners who stopped by to deliver the news: Chip Hudson and P.J. Rodriguez!

#StMatthewsHouse #nonprofit #charity #SWFL #SouthwestFlorida #ChickFilA #TrueInspirationAwards #grant #ChickfilASWFL