When Michelle lost her husband last March, her life was turned upside down. Forced to leave their shared home, she moved into a camper on a stranger’s property, unsure of what to do next. With no income and ongoing health challenges, she struggled to access basic necessities like electricity, water, and food. Desperate for help, she made call after call—only to be met with silence. Then she found Lashara.
Lashara Wade, a Community Health Worker (CHW) with United Way of Virginia’s Blue Ridge, picked up the phone and took action. She connected Michelle with Trinity Church, which arranged for a handyman to fix the property’s water issues. Lashara helped Michelle navigate the paperwork needed to transfer electricity into her name and enrolled her in the PIPP program to reduce her energy costs. When Michelle shared that she had no way to cook, Lashara and her colleague Lucas delivered food, a heater, and even an air fryer to help her prepare meals safely.
But the most profound impact went beyond the essentials. Through this support, Michelle found connection. She met women from Trinity Church who became new friends. She took a brave step outside her camper for the first time without her daughter by her side, visiting a local ministry for clothing and support. In her own words, “So much has changed for me. I just really need to say thank you and let you know how much I appreciate God working through you in my life! You truly are a blessing.”
Michelle still faces challenges, but she no longer faces them alone. Thanks to the dedication of Community Health Workers like Lashara, she has the resources—and the relationships—she needs to move forward with hope.
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