Ellen with Mike Rintelman of The Milwaukee Outreach Center
Did You Know?
Life Skills Empowerment is a life changing process of job
readiness for individuals struggling to survive. Our
unique approach transforms a life of need to one of
self-reliance through the following 5-step process:
1. Intake Screening (1 hour)
2. Paradigm Seminar called Phoenix (40 hours)
3. Life Skills Classes & Mentoring called Equal
Energy (12 weeks)
4. Job Placement
5. Employee/ Employer Follow-up
For more information of how you, your community and
business can become involved, download
our brochure.
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Ellen Sees the Fruit of
Her Faithfulness
Working full time
and studying for her GED keeps Ellen busy. At 45 years old, the hardworking
woman has conquered a lot to be at this place in her life. It wasn’t
so long ago that she was a high school drop out, unemployed and caring for
her parents.
From the time she was small,
Ellen’s parents frequently told their only child that she wouldn’t
amount to anything and didn’t deserve their love or affection. Ellen
lived out their poisonous words and struggled in school. Her parents didn’t
allow her to make any friends, forcing the little girl to live a lonely
existence.
Existing In the Shadows
During Ellen’s sophomore year in high school, her parents made her
drop out so she could support their lazy habits. For years she went to
the liquor store after work to pick up a case of beer and a carton of
cigarettes as her parents worked less and became ill from their destructive
lifestyle. Just as her name means “grace” and “mercy”,
Ellen displayed these character traits to her parents by continuing to
serve them.
After her father died in 1990, Ellen’s mother refused to work at
all and her health deteriorated, forcing the faithful daughter to take
care of her and work less. She died in 1998.
A New Beginning
Ellen’s misery didn’t end when she found out that numerous
bills and two years worth of property taxes were over due. Now unemployed
and desperate, she needed help! Anxiety attacks and depression plagued
the woman for months. Finally she had had enough and sought help from
a local mental health clinic. They recommended her to The Milwaukee Outreach
Center.
After three months of counseling with this Operation Blessing partner,
Ellen enrolled in the Life Skills Empowerment program. There she learned
how to interview for a job, regained some confidence and developed friendships.
A part-time position was found and quickly turned into full time. When
the company closed the store she was working at, her reputation for being
a hard worker transferred her to another location in the same company.
Since graduating from Life Skills Empowerment several years ago, Ellen
has paid off the back taxes, saved over $5,000 and purchased a new Ford
Explorer to replace her ten-year-old vehicle. Although Ellen still has
doubts about her future, she admits to seeing God working in her life
through people. The Life Skills Empowerment program gave her the group
support and the direction she needed to start putting her life back on
track.
There are thousands of men and women in desperate circumstances like
Ellen’s. They can’t see a way out of their poverty. Your gift
of $50 can help those struggling in poverty become prepared to find work
and help themselves out of their financial need.
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