Greenville Magazine - June 2008 - (Page 25)

treated, but Dr. Denker – a Vietnam vet himself – is here to help. Every day Denker makes a big difference in Greenville by helping veterans rebuild their lives. Case worker for Miracle Hill women’s shelter, Sandy Peeples According to Sandy Peeples, case worker for Shepherd’s Gate, Miracle Hill’s women’s shelter, Shepherd’s Gate is like a family to the women who live there. If that’s the case, then Peeples takes the mother’s role, watching over the women who call that shelter home. As a case worker, Peeples checks in new residents, doles out medications, resolves conflicts among the residents and provides a listening ear, day in and day out. “A lot of what I do is just listen,” Peeples says. “The women who are here are here because they’ve burned all their bridges – whether it’s with family or friends. Here they have a place they know they can come back to, and they need someone to listen to them, to care what’s going on in their lives. I do that.” Peeples also helps get these women’s lives back on track. Shepherd’s Gate gives these women a place to live for up to three months, charging them only $25 a month in rent and offering services to help them find jobs and begin saving money. Every two weeks, they’re responsible for completing progress reports. This is when Peeples sits down with them and discusses how things are going and how they can make further progress. Many women are able to save enough during their stays to pay two month’s apartment rent in advance after they leave. Peeples also helps ensure that each woman at the shelter keeps up with her own responsibilities. “We don’t ask them to cook or wash dishes, but we do ask that they keep their rooms clean; that they keep food out of their rooms; and that they wash their own clothes,” she said. “This place is really a home for them, and we want them to be able to create homes for themselves after they leave.” Peeples began her career in her own home, then, after her children were in school, moved on to teaching. She said working at Shepherd’s Gate is a different kind of challenge, but it’s also rewarding for her. Having a son who overcame drug addiction, Peeples says she can listen to residents and understand where some of them are coming from, like those who have faced addictions themselves or who’ve lived with family members facing addictions. When a friend recommended her for the case worker position, Peeples says she didn’t know what to expect but has found her niche as someone who spends her time improving the lives of what otherwise would be Greenville’s homeless. GM One size does not fit all. Business Insurance Home & Auto Employee Benefits Life & Health Insurance needs are ever-changing. Providing coverage that is just right for you takes more than 15 minutes. Your business and personal insurance needs are unique. It’s Our Business To Protect Yours. Call us. Our specialized insurance professionals can help. 864.288.9513 623 Halton Road Greenville, SC 29607 864.288.9513 TurnerAgencyInc.com Harrison Cline, Clarence Turner, Jr., Michael Douglas, Ross Turner and Curtis Bull may/june 2008 | Greenville maGazine 25 http://TurnerAgencyInc.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Greenville Magazine - June 2008

Greenville Magazine - June 2008 Contents From the Publisher My Greenville Everyday Heroes Tackling Diversity Greenville’s Gone Global In The Lead From the Pros Anderson Suburban Sprawl Wellness The REAL State of Real Estate Something to Bark About Minority-owned Business A Look Back 1-Tank Trips Private School Resource Guide After Hours The Bulletin Around Town Viewpoints

Greenville Magazine - June 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.