The Pope Family’s Story of Resilience at the Maclellan Shelter for Families

At the Maclellan Shelter for Families, the journey to hope and healing begins every day. Located in the heart of our city, this emergency shelter provides a safe haven for families facing the unimaginable.

 Meet the Pope family, who found themselves at a crossroads when they lost their home. With nowhere else to turn, they arrived at the Maclellan Shelter, where they were greeted with open arms and given the support they needed to get back on their feet.

“I started thanking God every day because it could be worse, and I thanked Him for allowing me to minister to people, as well as for them being able to minister to me. We’ve really become a family, and it’s been very impactful to be here,” said Vanessa Pope.

 This Thanksgiving Day, they will share their story at the 25th Annual Gobbler Walk, offering a message of strength, resilience, and hope.

“I’m grateful in a way that I know will be a blessing to us. A lot of people feel like homelessness is something grimy, something dirty, but if it can happen to me, it can happen to anybody. We were just a paycheck away, and all our funds were depleted when my husband couldn’t work, so we ended up here. I thank God for that. I thank God for the Gobbler Walk. It’s been 25 years that they’ve done this, and that’s amazing.”

“The Gobbler Walk has been a staple in the community, and it ensures that families, like the Pope family, are getting the resources they need to get a fresh start.

“To see the people who are actually using these services and how it impacts their lives is just priceless,” said Stan McCright, co-chair of Grateful Gobbler.