The Salvation Army of Michigan City will host two informational sessions for families interested in the Pathway of Hope program. Sessions will take place on Wednesday, February 12 at 9:30 am at The Salvation Army, 1201 S. Franklin Street, and on Thursday, February 20 at 5:30 pm.

These open house events are free and open to Michigan City residents who are interested in learning more about the Pathway of Hope program offered by The Salvation Army of Michigan City.

Pathway of Hope is a case management program. Families that enroll will meet one-on-one with a Social Services Director for 12- to 18-months. It is a free service but is limited to residents of Michigan City who have at least one child under the age of 18 residing in the home.

“This program is designed to use a family’s inherent strengths and build on what is strong within the family unit to build a stronger future for everyone,” said Cheytaya Rainey, who oversees the Pathway of Hope program. “We want to help parents overcome barriers and change their mindset and become self-sufficient with a goal of creating a solid foundation and brighter future for their children and grandchildren.”

Through Pathway of Hope, Rainey said she works with families to break the cycle of generational poverty. “We can break that cycle by addressing the root causes of poverty – what is standing in the way and preventing people from reaching a point of self-sufficiency,” she said. “We realize that every family is different, so the great thing about Pathway of Hope is that we can tailor the program to meet the individual goals, strengths, and pace that are unique to each family.”

This program can address a variety of challenges including household finances, education, transportation, childcare, mental health, physical health, and more.

More information about Pathway of Hope is available by contacting Cheytaya Rainey at (219) 874-6885. Other free services offered by The Salvation Army of Michigan City include a food pantry, diaper bank, utility assistance, weekend backpack feeding program, summer camp, emergency overnight shelter, spiritual care, and more.