by Henrietta Anderson (Author)
For so many people, a shelter is often more than a place to stay. To the women in room 217, the West End Shelter was many different things all at the same time. It was a safe house during the torrential storms of sadness, a beach oasis in the desert of solitude, a jumping point from which to fly, and even a soft landing to cushion an unexpected fall. Yes, for Sheila, August, Carolina, Precious, Melvina, Cecelia, and even the West End Shelter served as a garden to plant their seeds of life, a place where their hopes and dreams could be watered with warmth, compassion, and friendship. They had all sowed many different things in room 217 and drew strength from witnessing the growth of their friends and themselves. They had finally blossomed and each woman reaped a bountiful harvest in her own way.