Hope Starts HereMeet Janet Lehner

This energetic widow, great-grandmother and former truck-driver experienced a series of significant losses, including her home, but despite this, Janet never gave up hope. At her lowest point, Janet lived in her car — a frightening ordeal for a 75-year old with diabetes and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD).

“I pulled into a church parking lot in Browns Mills, sat there crying and when I looked up, I thought that I saw Catholic Charities’ phone number on a sign,” recounted Janet. Within an hour of Janet’s first appointment at Catholic Charities’ Community Services program in Burlington County, she was in a warm hotel room and a few weeks later, she was in a temporary rental.

Eventually, Janet moved into income-based housing where she is now comfortably paying her rent and stable in her new home. Community Services also provided her with bedding, blankets, towels and personal products and Janet continues to visit the food pantry on a regular basis which also helps reduce her living costs.

Janet still drops by the office to visit and catch up with her friends at Community Services. “Janet is a fighter and her ongoing success in navigating some difficult times owes to her faith and tenacity,” said case manager Cynthia Coleman.

According to Janet, “Catholic Charities turned my life around. I honestly don’t know where I’d be without their compassionate help.”