When Michael came to Good Sam, he didn’t know what to expect, and he certainly didn’t expect to find a close friend and mentor who would soon change his life.
At the time, Michael was living with his family. But, as he describes it, poor choices and a lack of accountability eventually led him to leave. He went from living at home to sleeping in a tent, a situation he never imagined he would find himself in.
One day, while sitting in a park and feeling fed up with where his life had taken him, Michael realized he no longer wanted to keep living the way he was. In that moment of clarity, he picked up his phone and called 2-1-1.
The door that opened led into Good Sam’s Kennett Square housing.
Little did he know, another individual was also in his same shoes just a couple of miles away.
Jamar had also experienced homelessness after a series of life changes and circumstances led him to lose his home. Like Michael, he reached out to 2-1-1 and was referred to Good Sam.
During his first week at Good Sam, Jamar found himself frustrated and unsure of what to do next. His entire life had been turned upside down, and he felt as though he needed to make a complete 180-degree turn to get back to where he wanted to be.
Then, he had a moment of revelation: Maybe God had brought him here for a reason. Maybe that reason was to be a blessing to the men around him.
Maybe it was to meet people just like Michael.
The two met shortly after Michael moved into Good Sam’s housing and quickly formed a connection. When Michael asked Jamar about his Bible study, he soon learned that Jamar’s daily routine went far beyond reading Scripture. It included prayer, exercise, healthy eating, and making time to care for himself physically, mentally, and spiritually.
It made an impact on Michael. “I thought about what I was doing before [coming to Good Sam], and I was like, ok, I can go back to that after six months, or I can go on to do something better,” he shared, looking back.
Aided by Jamar’s advice, Michael soon started making changes in his life, one step at a time. He swapped sweets for fruit, fast food for meals like chicken and rice. He started going to the gym, taking walks, and finding ways to be active. He leaned into the chores he was assigned to, taking responsibility for his own actions for the first time.
And most importantly, he decided to start therapy.
His Wednesday sessions with Good Sam’s therapist, Kristen, have since become something he looks forward to each week.
“Within two weeks of [doing therapy] here, I realized that there was underlying stuff for me that I wasn’t taking accountability for. … I’m glad I did it because there is stuff that I’ve bottled up for 20 plus years and now it’s finally coming out.”
Today, Michael wakes up feeling ten times better than he ever did before, a completely different man than he was when he came to Good Sam. He credits much of that transformation to his friendship with Jamar.
“He has helped me get through so much stuff,” Michael shared. “I can honestly say, I don’t think I’d be where I’m at now, if it wasn’t for his support. … I probably would have left here 500 pounds and not in the best headspace. But now I’m going to leave here in a better headspace and hopefully move on to the next chapter.”
That next chapter? Moving into a two-bedroom apartment with Jamar as they save up to one day move into their very own homes.
If you’re in Kennett Square, you might spot Michael and Jamar doubled over in laughter as they make one of their frequent walks to Wawa for coffee. Their friendship is a reminder that sometimes, the most unexpected connections can come from the moments when we need help the most.
Both men will tell you that reaching out wasn’t easy. But by making that call, they found something unexpected: friendship, support, accountability, and a community that helped them see new possibilities for their lives.
“I hope people understand that it’s OK to admit that you need a little help,” Michael shared. “Us as people, we don’t want to say, ‘OK, we need help’. You don’t want to call 2-1-1, you don’t want to come to a place like this. But Good Sam has taken all those negative things that you hear about shelters, that you hear about homes … and blew it out of the water for me.”
Jamar echoes this: “[Asking for help] is not a weakness; it’s a strength. Cause you will never know what you can do or what you were sent for if you don’t reach out and ask for help.”
