Chelsea stood in the kitchen, making breakfast as her three children laughed beside her.

It was loud, a bit messy – but to her, it was perfect.

For most families, breakfast is routine. But for Chelsea, it was a moment she fought hard to earn.

After years of struggle, she was finally living what she calls “the good life” – her children by her side, a home of their own, and a future full of promise.

And it was all made possible because of caring people like you.

Every Day Was a Struggle

Chelsea would wake up sweating and her heart racing. She couldn’t get herself out of bed.

It was the lowest point of her life. Her three children – who mean everything to her – were in foster care, each miles apart.

She never imagined life would come to this – alone, afraid, and wondering how everything unraveled so quickly. But addiction doesn’t care. It had taken everything from her and sent her life into a tailspin.

Chelsea grew up in the Lakes Region and started using at an early age. Even after becoming a mother, she tried to stop. She was the type of mother who was always there for her kids, taking them to school events, medical appointments, wherever the kids needed her.

But she couldn’t shake off the demons and ended up losing custody of all three kids last year.

Getting them back meant more than a stable place to live. She needed structure, accountability and a chance to get her life back on track.

That’s what she found with New Generation, the Greenland-based program that provides shelter, support and a path forward for moms like her.

She got on the waitlist and would call twice a week, hoping for an opening. Finally, in January, she got the good news. They had a spot.

The Door Opens

When she first moved in, her children were forty minutes away – two in one direction, the other in another.

At New Generation, she found a fresh start. With her caseworker Spenser – a former New Generation resident herself – Chelsea set small goals that built into big victories.

One included her car, which was barely holding together. Losing it would have meant losing her job or seeing her kids. Thanks to financial assistance from New Generation, she was able to make the repairs she needed, allowing her to keep working and moving forward.

New Generation also helped arrange visits with her children. Every minute being apart from them crushed her heart, but Chelsea knew she was working towards something bigger – a future her kids deserved with their mom.

This past summer, the hard work and support of New Generation paid off. She was reunited with her kids full-time. Her oldest moved into New Generation in April. The two others followed in June. She had to pinch herself to realize that every day started and ended the way she hoped: together.

“All the moms here have their own stories and situations,” she shared. “Being here makes me feel so empowered to see how far other mothers have gone. It’s an incredible community to be part of.”

A New Home

Her biggest moment came days ago. After ten months at New Generation, Chelsea and the kids moved into their very own apartment.

The family she once feared losing forever now sits around the same dinner table – laughing, planning for the holidays, and dreaming about future hiking trips together.

“When I lost my kids, I felt lost, scared, and angry,” Chelsea shares. “Now, I’m happy. There’s finally light at the end of the tunnel.”

Grateful for You

Chelsea arrived at New Generation with just a suitcase. Now, she has so much more – a growing career, children who love going to school, and a future full of family memories waiting to be made.

“Because of you, I got my children back — and the home we’d been dreaming of,” she shares.

“My mission is to be 100% for my kids and give them a beautiful life. And I’m not going to stop until I get there.”