At Daystar, we are honored to share the story of Keith, a resilient young man whose life took a positive turn with a little support and a lot of determination. Although Keith declined a video interview due to distance, he graciously shared his story with us, requesting that we respect his privacy by not disclosing his full name.
“My life has never been better! I moved to Lakeland, FL, and got a full-time job. I’m able to see my kids more often and I’ve never been happier!” Keith’s voice was filled with joy. However, his journey to this point was not without its many hardships.
Keith openly shared the dark period he experienced before finding Daystar. “I will admit, though, before visiting Daystar, I was struggling [with mental health]. I’ll be honest, I was going through a dark time and I ended up in the hospital. I was really going through it,” he confessed. It was during this difficult time that Keith was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and began receiving medication to manage his condition. The hospital also provided sessions with their in-house counselor during his stay, which was an important step towards his recovery.
Upon his release from the hospital, Keith faced another large hurdle – he did not have stable housing. This is when he learned about Daystar. “I needed food and some clothing for job interviews,” Keith explained. At Daystar, we were able to provide him with essential groceries, clothing, and personal hygiene items. Specifically, Keith received interview attire – black dress pants, a belt, white and black solid color shirts, as well as food pantry groceries and various personal hygiene products.
The support Keith received at Daystar, in addition to his ongoing mental health treatment paved the way for new opportunities. “Soon after that, with the combination of the help I’d gotten from Daystar and the medication that was starting to fix my mental health, I had a couple of job interviews and ended up landing a full-time job in Lakeland, FL,” Keith recounted. Securing stable employment allowed Keith to move to Lakeland and find housing close to his new job.
One of the most rewarding outcomes of Keith’s journey has been his ability to reconnect with his children. “I get to see my kids every week now,” he shared with happiness and a sense of accomplishment.
Keith’s story is a testament to the power of community support and personal resilience. At Daystar, we are committed to assisting individuals like Keith, providing the resources and support they need to rebuild their lives. We are immensely proud of Keith’s achievements and grateful to have been a part of his journey towards stability and happiness.
If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please reach out to us at Daystar. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of individuals facing adversity. Where there is compassion, there is hope.
