Amanda

Amanda grew up in and out of foster care, often moving from home to home and from school to school. She felt like she had to grow up fast, and by the age of 21, she had a steady job and found an apartment to call her own. Her past was marked by experiences of neglect, abuse, chaos, and deep-seated uncertainty. As a result of these significant traumas, Amanda made the decision to become homelessness for a time. She chose to rid her life of worldly possessions including her home and truck. She traveled around the country. She met a lot of people, but was still searching for genuine connection. When she ended up in Amarillo, she spent some time in a local shelter. Some one there told her about the supportive community and resources available at the PARC. It was at the PARC that Amanda discovered a profound sense of healing and unconditional love that she had long been missing. Witnessing the transformative journeys of others around her inspired Amanda to believe that, perhaps, her own life could be reshaped into something better as well. With renewed hope, she enrolled in classes at Amarillo College to further her education. Today, she enjoys the stability of having a home and balancing three different jobs.

She remembers herself at ten years old. She was extremely extroverted and completely unafraid of engaging in conversations with people, no matter who they were. So, one of her biggest hopes for the future is that she can keep embodying the spirited essence of the little girl she used to be. We see her living into that hope every single day. She possesses the remarkable ability to speak softly but with undeniable power, and it is truly a joy to witness her now passionately advocate for others. Regardless of what her future may entail, Amanda is determined to live radically for Jesus and hopes that when others listen to her story, they recognize it as a testament to God’s immense and unwavering love.

Billy

When Billy first arrived at the PARC, he was extremely quiet and noticeably withdrawn, keeping mostly to himself. However, over time, we were able to encourage him through the artwork he was creating. Something that seemed so simple as expressing himself artistically helped him not only see tangible progress but also feel a deep sense of accomplishment. We were able to help him reconnect with his family, and he eventually felt ready to go back home to Alabama. Before his departure, he successfully found a job and secured a place to live so that he could be around his family while also maintaining his independence and autonomy. Billy began working as a truck driver and, over time, took an ambitious step to start his own trucking business, employing two others and cultivating a small but efficient fleet of trucks. He continues to keep us updated on his life and achievements, but we often wondered if we would ever have the chance to see him again. It is always a beautiful moment when our members come by to show us their cars, but nothing could have prepared us for the remarkable day that Billy showed up in his semi!

lonny

Lonny was a successful businessman with his own welding company for over 20 years. But, after suffering from a stroke, he was unable to work, unable to pay his employees, his bills, his mortgage, and eventually found himself homeless. During this time, Lonny and his wife separated. He hated not getting to see his wife and kids. The side effects from his stroke left Lonny with braces on his legs and severe shaking. It was difficult for him even to hold a cup of coffee. While at the PARC, we watched him work hard, persevere, and accept help. Lonny was able to secure housing assistance and got his own apartment. He has now reconciled and reunited with his wife and children.​ We love when they stop by to visit.

While at the PARC, Lonny met a man named Enrique. Enrique is widely recognized as a very hard and intimidating man, well-known in the homeless community as someone not to mess with. One morning, Lonny was sharing with us how much he desperately needed some new shoes to replace his worn-out pair. We were genuinely shocked when Enrique returned later that day, holding a pair of boots specifically for Lonny! Not only that, but we watched in awe as this tough, seemingly scary man knelt down at Lonny’s feet and carefully put the boots on for him. It was an incredible moment that truly demonstrated the unexpected kindness hidden beneath Enrique's tough exterior and the power of connection and relationships built at the PARC.