Rachel’s Story

Rachel attends our Children & Youth programs. She hasn’t had any easy life.

When she was only 6 years old, her mother became addicted to crack cocaine. Her father wasn’t around so her aunt took Rachel under her care.

While her aunt provided a loving home, Rachel was of course, profoundly affected by her mother’s addiction. She blamed herself, believed she wasn’t good enough and thought she was responsible for her mom taking drugs.

When Rachel was just 17, her aunt tragically passed away and things took a turn for the worst. Rachel dropped out of school, jumped from boyfriend to boyfriend and seemed destined to spiral downward.

Fortunately, Rachel had been part of the ‘family’ at Dixon Hall’s Children & Youth Centre for many years. She’d attended our summer camps from a young age and benefitted from the Young Women’s Drop-in Centre.

Rachel relied on her connection with our caring staff, who fought hard to make sure she didn’t fall through the cracks. It can be so easy to forget about older, troubled youth and just focus on young kids. That’s what sets Dixon Hall apart.

Our staff truly care about Rachel and they believe in her. They encouraged her to go back to school where she completed her high school diploma. They helped her find an apartment. They even helped her apply to college.

Rachel is now 21, working and waiting to hear about college. She made it. But unfortunately, there are many more just like her...

In Regent Park, our Children & Youth Programs are highly regarded for the work we do with at-risk, vulnerable youth. We believe that everyone should be given the opportunity to succeed regardless of where you come from or what you may have done. Everyone deserves a chance.

But we couldn’t do this without the kind support of generous donors like you.

Please renew your support of Dixon Hall Neighbourhood Services in 2015 by making a gift today. Your donation give will go a long way in making sure we can continue to help young people like Rachel – whose heartbreaking story has turned into one of success.