Page 7 - Martin Downs Bulletin - July '23

Martin Downs, Page 7
Good Works from page 6
Showing “Wheel” Love To
Family Promise Mom And
Daughters
By Jackie Holfelder
One of the strengths of the Family Promise of Martin
County model is the special relationships that are created
through the nonprofit’s church families.
Jennifer Tyler and her 13-year-old grandson, Elliot
Baugh, deliver dinners to families experiencing
homelessness and enrolled in the Family Promise
Shelter Program. Tyler attends Unity Church, a support
congregation for Family Promise, providing meals to
families in the program, among other things.
One evening, she and Elliot delivered dinner to a mom
– Jessica – and her first- and fourth-grade daughters in
the Shelter Program. During that time, Elliot observed
that not only could the children use some of his toys, but
that Jessica needed a car. Michael and Claire Baugh, Elliot Baugh and Jennifer Tyler according to his dad, Michael Baugh. He went through
See answer in this paper.
Goldie, the car that was gifted to Jessica
Elliot was “charged” when he returned home,
his toys and tried to find other ways to help the family,
especially the girls, to whom he felt like an older brother.
He suggested to his mom and dad that they should gift
one of their cars to the family. They commended Elliot for
his generous spirit, but let him know that was probably
more than they could do at that time.
That evening, Michael and his wife Claire had no
intention of buying another car. But a few weeks later,
Michael happened on a special car that he had always
wanted and bought it. When he brought it home, Elliot
reminded his parents of the desperate need that Jessica
and her girls had for a car.
He encouraged them to give “Goldie” to the family he
and grandma met through Family Promise. (Yes, each car
the family has gets a special name!). Tyler was so touched
by Elliot’s commitment to helping that she purchased
insurance to help alleviate some of the extra expenses
that car ownership entails.
Michael notes that in a world where sometimes
teenagers get a bad rap, this is a shining example of the
good that teens can and still do. He emphasizes that, since
he and Claire had never met Jessica and her daughters, it
was only because of Elliot that they donated the vehicle.
He adds, “It’s nice to be part of the human race when we
all work together to help others.”
In a beautiful coincidence, the Family Promise team
and Jessica had been praying for a better-paying job and
a donated car. Within just one week, she secured a new
job with benefits and opportunity for advancement and
the car from the Baugh family.
She and her daughters have since moved from the
Family Promise Shelter Program to its Almost Home
transitional housing program, where they are saving
towards home ownership.
Says Jessica, “I’m grateful that people are still faithful
to giving and helping others with gratitude and thanks.
I’m grateful to God; amazing blessings!”
Family Promise, which is an affiliate of a national
501(c)(3) organization with a 35-plus year successful
track record, is helping change lives every day. But as
Madeleine Bozone Greenwood, executive director, likes
to assure people, “Every cent we raise stays right here in
Martin County. As a matter of fact, the way the national
organization is structured, they return funds to the local
affiliates – the opposite of many similar nonprofits.”
To learn more, visit www.mcfamilypromise.org or call
(772) 266-9327.
Photos provided by Family Promise of Martin County
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