Ashley came to LCCM for help with food and a water bill. 9 months later, she has a GED and a phlebotomy certification.

Ashley, left, and LCCM upLIFT coach, Lesvi Vazquez, celebrate after Ashley received her GED.

Ashley came to Lebanon County Christian Ministries a year ago looking for help with food and a water bill. Little did she know at the time that this encounter would lead to getting her GED and becoming certified as a phlebotomist.

That encounter with LCCM’s Market on 7th charitable food pantry, and upLIFT lite, LCCM’s utility payment assistance program, led to enrolling in the long-term upLIFT coaching program with coach Lesvi Vazquez.
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“I was just trying to find a way to get back into financial stability,” said Ashley, a single mother of two girls, ages 11 and 4. 

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The upLIFT coaching program is in its third year at LCCM. It seeks to build up the overall health, economic well-being and stability of its members who join the long term program. The biggest gains were made in food security and financial wellbeing among its participants so far.

Trying to take care of her two children, one of whom has health issues, and needing to move, led to mounting medical and electric bills that put her behind. Working part-time, she could not keep up with the basic costs of living.   With no GED, her options were limited for work.
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When she entered the upLIFT program, her first goal was to get on her electric company’s payment assistance program and get subsidized child care. With her financial situation more stable, Ashley could now put her focus on obtaining her GED and enrolling in phlebotomy courses through WEPA Empowerment Center, a workforce and education training center in downtown Lebanon. 

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“LCCM put me through WEPA and because of them I was able to achieve my goals of getting my GED and phlebotomy career,” she said. “I just graduated and it feels great. The whole positive outcome is that I have my career and GED that I didn’t get until I was 30 years old. It’s a great achievement, all because of LCCM. Lesvi pushed and motivated me and made sure I didn’t procrastinate. I tried getting my GED four other times before.”

Ashley’s motivation for entering the health care field stems from losing her husband to cancer. She is drawn to working in oncology or at a private practice.

And the road over the last year to achieve her goals didn’t come without challenges, but it was important to Ashley that she showed up to every session with Lesvi on time, even when she didn’t feel like it.

“When we set a day and time, I showed up, and that’s what was most important to me,” she said. “I have a hard time showing up for things that will get me better. I let life take over. I had a lot on my plate, more than I thought I could handle, but I handled it.”

Ashley, left, draws blood from her LCCM upLIFT coach, Lesvi Vazquez, at WEPA Empowerment Center's phlebotomy course. Ashley just graduated in February.

Working with Lesvi gave her the motivation to tackle each small step one by one, and she credits conversations, logistical planning and resource sharing by Lesvi with helping her to succeed and stay on track.

“Overall, with the whole program and going to school, I learned to be a little more humble and patient. I have more confidence in myself because I wanted to give up a million times on this journey,” she said.

Shopping with Lesvi for food at Grocery Outlet, LCCM’s upLIFT partner, gave Ashley the opportunity to learn how to budget appropriately and stock up on items.

 “I learned how to budget. I was calculating in my head all the time,” she said. “Shopping with Lesvi was just like hanging out with a friend.”

As Ashley begins to plan for the next phase of life, she has some advice for the next group of upLIFT members.

 “Just have faith and keep showing up, no matter how you feel,” she said. “God is always there. No matter how down you feel, or don’t think you have enough food for the night or how you’ll feed your kids, or how to deal with your emotions. Just show up. Do not give up.” 
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