Faith Over Fear: Kristina’s Story

In the middle of several chaotic months, StreetWise has been a welcome constant in Kristina’s life. 

“It’s been a true blessing that StreetWise has been there for us through the years,” she said. 

While her husband works full-time in the military, Kristina is a stay-at-home mom to three special needs children. Recently, her sister moved in with the family, adding to an already full house.

“Everything kind of overwhelms me because I’m trying to keep up with a household of six,” she explained.

In recent months, the family has not only dealt with a busy home but also faced adversity after adversity. From her sister’s medical emergency to losing their home to arson in August of 2024, the family found themselves in a tight spot. 

“We lived in a camper in my sister-in-law’s driveway for several months, and then we finally found a new home. But it ended up costing us a lot out of pocket,” she said.

“It’s so hard to lift your head up every day. For my husband, I feel some days it’s so hard for him to get up and go to work and do everything he does when he worries that there might not be food on the table even when he’s working all day to pay the bills.”

In every hardship, StreetWise and its team have been there for Kristina.

“Throughout everything, I’ve always known that I could put food on the table for my kids,” she said. “They also have the clothing pantry and with the fire and everything, we had clothes to wear.”

Even when the holidays came around, Kristina knew where she and her husband could turn.

“Last Christmas, we did not know what we were gonna do for the kids, and we got [to StreetWise] and for a hundred dollars we were able to take care of the kids beyond measure,” she said.

The StreetWise volunteers have faithfully served and encouraged Kristina at every visit. 

“They never judge. They never have a bad word. They are always so nice and friendly and pray for every different circumstance we have going on,” she said.

Kristina thinks of one particular volunteer who encourages her to look for ways God is showing up and strengthening her family, especially through her sister’s medical emergencies.

“She’s always prayed for me to be grateful that God can pull families together and that God is there,” she shared. “We might see it as a bad situation at the time, but [the volunteer] encouraged me not to always view it as a bad thing that we’re going through because God has His ways of pulling us together through these trials.”

The volunteer also inspired Kristina and her family to make time to pray together weekly. By prioritizing faith as a family, Kristina has seen this commitment bear fruit. 

“She said this would help us get together in ways we never thought we would,” she said. “My sister had given up on God last year, and [after we began praying together] she finally accepted God back into her life!”

When others she knows find themselves in a tight spot, Kristina points them to StreetWise. 

“They are truly a giving community of non-judgmental people who are just there to serve,” she said. “You want to wake up in the morning and know that there’s going to be a hot meal on the table when your kids get home from school or when you get home from work. And that is what Streetwise does for a family.

“It has been a true godsend to have StreetWise there for us through the years.”