Ruby Ruby is proud of her resilience in life. She is extremely humble, and attributes this to the many unexpected lessons that life can throw your way. 2020 was a year of hard work and perseverance for both Ruby and her family, as they were informed in June that their landlord had to sell their property due to financial constraints, rendering them homeless in the midst of the pandemic. If you talk to her about this situation, she does not dwell on the hardships of the circumstances. Instead, she will mention how her sister and brother-in-law sprang into action to help find them a home, or how her oldest daughter provided care for her two younger siblings for the summer while Ruby and her husband “sorted things out.” She stated, “Life teaches you many lessons, and even some of the bad things we go through are good for us.” As she was busy moving her entire family’s belongings into storage units, Ruby realized that not everything would fit. Rather than selling her items, she gave away what they couldn’t store to those who needed it more than her. This demonstrates her outlook on life, as she believes that the energy you put out in the world will come right back to you. She and her husband stayed with friends, and occasionally in hotel rooms, throughout the summer and into the fall. Shelters in the area were full, and they had to do everything they could to stay safe during the pandemic. Ruby continued working as a manager at Minamyer Residential Care Services, as well working as a hospice aide, without missing a single day of work. Still, there comes a point where everyone needs a little bit of help in life, and Central Community House was glad to be of assistance to Ruby. She stated, “There’s no such thing as a handout. Central is a hand up, not a handout.” Thanks to emergency assistance funds, Central was able to help Ruby pay her rent and utilities, and eventually, her family’s deposit on their new home in October of 2020. Ruby speaks very highly of her Community Service Worker at Central, noting he was an advocate for her and made sure to call her every day to check-in. She stated, “He would call, and a lot of the time I wouldn’t call him back because I was frustrated with life and didn’t want to talk, but he was persistent.” Ruby said, “I’ve never felt like anybody who works there doesn’t like their job.” She also raves about Central’s monthly Community Dinners. One evening she came home late after working long hours, and her husband had been able to pick up a to-go meal for everyone in their family. Ruby stated, “I was so exhausted, and actually broke down crying when I saw the food because I knew my family was fed. These are beautiful meals that people put a lot of time and energy into making.” Central also connected Ruby to Vineyard Church in Westerville, and they provided her family with brand new household items. It looks like Ruby was right – the energy you put out in the world does come back to you, as they were able to receive new items to replace those that they had to give away over the summer. Today, Ruby and her family are loving their new home and neighborhood. She remains involved at Central Community House and stated, “I’m always going to be part of that community there.” She has shifted from receiving emergency services to being eager to participate in volunteer activities, and wants to talk with people who have been in situations similar to hers. She believes that “whatever you are going through, you will come out of it, and Central will welcome you with open arms.”
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