Stories
MEET: The Monk Family
To the Monk family, nothing mattered more during the year they were homeless than keeping their family together. It took single-minded real determination.
Mr. Monk struggled to keep working while trying to find help for the family and tending to his wife, who was experiencing frightening pregnancy-related medical complications. The kids were fighting and their oldest son was getting into trouble.
When they finally came “home” at the end of 2014 and started receiving help from Friendship Place, everything changed. The kids are getting along now and the 15-year-old is back on the honor roll.
“He’s a different person,” says Mrs. Monk, who is slowly recovering her health. Mr. Monk, who had worked as a cable installer in the past, has completed fiber optics training and is working regularly again.
Most important to both, they can devote themselves now to what they love best – being parents. “Other people say, ‘What, are you crazy? Eight kids?’” says Mr. Monk. “But I enjoy being a father. It takes a lot of patience and a lot of love, but it’s worth it having them look up to you and teaching them.”
