By Sherry Jones
May is a month known for blooming flowers, warmer days and a pause to honor the women who nurture, guide and hold others up. But not all maternal care happens inside a family. Sometimes, it takes place behind the quiet walls of a shelter, where love shows up in the form of two remarkable women named Donna and Liz.
When someone arrives at One Hopeful Place in Fort Walton Beach, they’re usually carrying more than a bag. They carry a story-one filled with hardship, fear and uncertainty. But before they’re handed a meal or shown to a bed, they’re met with something far more powerful: compassion. And more often than not, it comes from Donna or Liz.
These two women are the heartbeat of the shelter. You won’t see them chasing recognition. Their work is quiet, tireless and deeply personal-from the intake desk where someone finally exhales to the living quarters where a weary soul finds safety and sleep.
Donna leads with heart. She brings a calming presence to the day-to-day, managing operations with patience and quiet strength. Liz is sharp, quick on her feet, and deeply intuitive-able to read people and situations in a matter of moments. Together, they’ve built something rare: a partnership rooted in mutual respect, shared mission and the unshakable belief that every life has value.
“I don’t see ‘homeless,'” Liz told me. “I see someone’s son, someone’s daughter—someone who just needs a break.”
That belief guides every moment. Whether it’s helping someone get a state ID, preparing a resume, setting up job interviews or working with local landlords to secure housing, Donna and Liz are fully committed to helping every person who comes through the door find a pathway forward. Their top priority is to connect residents to employment opportunities and permanent housing-because survival is only the first step. Thriving is the goal.
“Our goal is to meet people where they are,” Donna said. “We can’t fix everything overnight, but we can give
them a safe place to start over-and sometimes, that’s all someone needs.” I always tell them, “Never doubt in the darkness what you learned in the light.” We try to be their first light of hope.
And sometimes, being there means giving more than time.
When a rare and bitter cold snap gripped the Panhandle this past winter, bringing freezing temperatures and icy conditions, Donna and Liz didn’t go home. They stayed at the shelter for several days straight, sleeping in shifts, keeping the facility warm, serving meals and making sure not one person was left out in the cold. While others bundled up indoors, they chose to be right there, beside those who needed them most.
That’s the kind of leadership you don’t teach. That’s love in action.
Every day, they support people facing addiction, trauma, mental health challenges and overwhelming odds. They don’t turn away. They lean in-with grace, grit and compassion.
In a world that can feel harsh and hurried, Donna and Liz remind us that kindness still lives here. The mission of One Hopeful Place is to provide shelter and stability, but it’s Donna and Liz who give it soul.
This Mother’s Day month, let’s take a moment to honor women like Donna and – women who care fiercely, lead with compassion and offer comfort without conditions. Whether through the love they give their own families or the selfless care they extend to others, their impact reaches far beyond the walls of the shelter. Fort Walton Beach is better because they choose to serve here.
If you’re looking for a way to make a difference, consider supporting One Hopeful Place. Whether through donations, volunteer hours or a simple thank-you card addressed to two extraordinary women, you’ll be helping keep that door of hope wide open.
