Honestly, we didn’t have high hopes for him. His tumultuous childhood painted a bleak picture for his future.
His father had asked him to leave home at 16, feeling like he was enough of an adult to make it on his own. His mother was lost in the bottle somewhere in Texas. Starting his life in an orphanage in Russia, this was a familiar pattern of neglect and abandonment that he's experienced since birth.
HART met him through a school counselor when she discovered that he was living in a tent in a friend’s backyard. Now 18, he was eligible for HART to help him.
Before moving to Elk Grove, it was readily apparent he had lived in the South. “Yes ma’am, no ma’am”, always polite and respectful, so grateful for the help and shelter he got while at the Grace House.
With the diligent support of his mentor, he graduated from high school. We cheered him on and breathed a sigh of relief on graduation day. Now to find a job.
Again, his mentor worked tirelessly to help Hugo apply for multiple jobs. Follow-through was not his strong point. Landing a job on the assembly line at Apple was huge victory. But honestly, we all held our breath, expecting it wouldn’t last long.
Hugo proved us wrong. Not only has he been working for Apple more than a year, he's also been promoted and transferred to another facility out of state which is closer to his grandmother who still cares about him.
Mentoring is not an easy job, but Elk Grove HART’s dedicated volunteers have proven repeatedly the great value of walking with those who are struggling, encouraging them along the way. Hugo’s future looks bright because of his mentor that never gave up on him. A huge thank you to our amazing mentors!
