BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Our 23ABC Bakersfield Baby Shower is officially underway! We are so thankful for all of the community's support so far. We will continue to work to get donations to benefit Kern County's most vulnerable children.
One of the organizations that needs help is The Mission at Kern County. One local woman says she wouldn't be able to take care of her children if it wasn't for their help.
Erika Lopez's life has not been all smiles. She grew up in a rocky, abusive household. After that, she went from the homeless shelter, to jail, with abusive relationships in between.
“At one point I thought my cycle wasn’t going to stop and just keep being the same thing. I was so tired of it,” Lopez said, while holding her young daughter, Elissa.
She heard about The Mission while she was in jail in 2014. "I came in and they welcomed me with open arms.”
Now, Erika is part of an 18-month, faith based, residential addiction recovery home.
“Now, everything looks so much brighter I’m not looking backwards anymore I’m actually moving forward,” Lopez said. “There’s actually a hope and a future.”
According to The Mission, on a single night, there are 115 homeless children in Kern County. The non-profit works to give everything they can to those in need.
“From clothes to diapers and wipes to shampoos and everything, every necessity you can think of they provided,” Lopez said.
And it's not just tangible items. Advice, lessons, and values, and things that Erika can pass down to her children.
“It’s ok to make mistakes you know, just get back up. And I want them to know the Lord and just have that foundation that I have."
