After years of struggling to keep up with medical bills following major heart and kidney issues, Marie “Rosie” Kreutzer was in trouble. Food always seemed to be running low and this self-described “positive person” was emotionally and physically drained. 

She was in line at a Common Heart drive-thru mobile food pantry in Monroe when she first heard about Getting Ahead. There she met Sarah Kimbrough, GA graduate and now Lead Facilitator, who was talking with neighbors and passing out flyers about the next session of the empowerment focus group. 

“At first, I was really skeptical. I thought ‘Yeah right someone’s going to give me $425 just for attending classes?’” 

She knew that she could also attend Common Heart’s traditional food pantry that evening in Wingate so she did and who did she see?? Yep, Sarah was there talking with more neighbors and passing out flyers!  

“I laughed and told her, ‘Truthfully I’ve been thinking about it all day, I prayed about it and when I saw you I thought it’s a sign.’”

Rosie loved Getting Ahead so much that she’s already started training to become a co-facilitator for the next session this fall! 

“I discovered I have resources, I have ways to get out of this. There’s just so many different things that started coming to light. It’s very empowering,” she said. “I feel sorry for the couple of people that didn’t finish the course because they missed so much. I can’t wait to keep growing with Common Heart.”

 
Rosie was among 5 women who celebrated the completion of Getting Ahead last month with a graduation celebration. They chose the theme “Wake Up & Change Poverty into Prosperity” and decided to make it a PJ party complete with breakfast for dinner.

We also celebrated a graduation ceremony with our first GA class in partnership with our friends at the Community Shelter of Union County in Monroe… stay tuned for more details on this exciting partnership!