10 graduate from 'Pathway of Hope,' achieve goals set last year

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - The Salvation Army's Pathway of Hope program graduated ten more Thursday afternoon.

The program helps people struggling achieve their goals and build a stronger foundation.

"They come in and say, 'Hey, I need help with X.' It can be college, it can can be a house, it can be a job, it can be childcare, whatever their issue is," Major Randy Summit of the Salvation Army said. "Then [Andrea Lewin] comes alongside them, finds the resources they need to make that dream happen."

Andrea Lewin is the longtime manager of Pathway of Hope. She guides everyone to the resources they need to reach their goals.

Lewin says, "Sometimes when you're trying to do three or four goals at time, it's too overwhelming. My job is to do one goal at a time, go to the next goal, and then continue from there."

One of the ten graduates lived in the Salvation Army's men's shelter for about seven months last year.

Anthony Felton said, "It's been so long since I had my own place."

Now Felton has a home of his own and is enrolled in welding classes.

"I really enjoy being in my place by myself. It means a great deal to me," Felton said. "Now I can have my grandkids over and I love to do that."

The Salvation Army has two of these graduations every year. The next one is set for some time in the Fall.