My name is Amy, and I was born in Toronto, Ontario. I am the oldest in a family of five siblings. My parents were giving and caring people while I was growing up, and they still are. My parents opened up their home to foster children and provided an open door for anyone in need of love and friendship. Our family table was always full.
I am a creative thinker and love everything that broadens my artistic abilities in life. I've always known what I wanted and pursued my goals. I've been in a care-providing role of some capacity since I was 12 years old. I work full-time as a Personal Support Worker (PSW). I have been at the same group home location for over 12 years.
When I met my husband, Corey, he offered a refreshing change in my life, and his parents have made a positive lasting impression on us. He is the youngest of a group of three fantastic siblings. They grew up on St. Joseph Island, just east of Sault Ste. Marie. Corey loves anything technical, musical, and all sorts of Science Fiction. He was completely transparent about his goals and dreams in life when we met. From the very beginning, he has worked diligently in every area of our relationship. Corey deals with some health barriers for long-term employment, BUT Corey has held several minimum-wage jobs and, with determination, he's been able to work part-time to full-time hours over the years. He is currently in a job at just above minimum wage working hard to maintain this. It is a full-time position. Corey has always worked hard for our family to provide stability and meet our needs.
We were married in 2010 and blessed with two beautiful boys. Gabriel is seven years old and very bright, sweet, and empathetic. Sabastian is four years old. He is kind, sensitive, and beautifully creative. My husband and I have shared a dream that we would be able to have our family in a home of our own. However, it has not been something we could afford on our own. We heard about Habitat for Humanity and about the amazing possibility of homeownership and being part of a community via the radio and my dad's involvement in the ReStore in Barrie, Ontario. We are thankful for our current living arrangement. We have been here for over 10 years. We have struggled financially because of the rising rates in the rental market and have been living paycheck to paycheck. Our busy growing family has outgrown the apartment where we are now. Unfortunately, we have not been able to stay ahead of our bills and save for a home. We hope that a partnership with Habitat for Humanity will allow us to be part of giving something back to the community. To have stability in our living situation offering more opportunities for our kids, reducing stress, and building hope and roots in a community we can call home.
We are so thankful for this journey and this wonderful opportunity to partner with Habitat for Humanity.