The Heart of Caritas: A Second Chance, A New Beginning

When Susanna first walked through the doors of Caritas, she wasn’t looking for a career.

She was looking for a way forward.

After returning home from prison in 2020 — just as the pandemic was unfolding — Susanna was determined to rebuild her life. She had been incarcerated for nearly seven years. When she came home, she knew one thing: she wanted better. For herself. For her children. For her future.

“I needed my ID. I needed to take care of old tickets. I needed to do community service hours. I needed to move forward and really let go of my past.”

A friend mentioned Caritas. At the time, Susanna came simply to receive food during the drive-through pantry days of the pandemic. But not long after, she returned — this time to complete her required community service hours.

She had a newborn son at home. She was balancing motherhood, rebuilding her life, and trying to meet court requirements. She came in faithfully, determined to finish what she had started.

Within weeks, staff noticed something.

“They saw that I was willing to work. I wanted to prove myself. Helping people has always been a passion for me.”

Caritas took a chance on her.

Leadership worked with Susanna so she could complete her required hours while also earning income — working half days toward community service and half days as a paid employee. It was more than flexibility. It was trust.

From there, she was hired as an assistant supervisor in the pantry. Soon after, she earned her forklift certification and began working in the warehouse — a role not many expect to see women in.

“I’ve always been that person — just because I’m a woman, don’t underestimate me.”

Under mentorship and growing confidence, she stepped into more responsibility. After two years in warehouse operations, she transitioned into her current role as a Community Support Specialist.

Each step built something in her that she hadn’t fully seen before.

“I started realizing — wow. I really can do this. I’m capable of more.”

Compassion Without Judgment

What surprised Susanna most about Caritas wasn’t the structure or the programs.

It was the compassion.

“I’ve been homeless. I’ve struggled with addiction. I’ve lived on the streets. So when I see how Caritas treats people — with understanding and without judgment — that goes a long way.”

She knows firsthand how vulnerable it feels to ask for help. And she knows how powerful it is to feel safe while doing so.

“We’re all human. We all have a past. We all have a story.”

In her role, Susanna assists neighbors with utilities, federal benefits, Medicaid applications, and other essential services. Many times, the people she meets are overwhelmed, discouraged, or exhausted from trying to navigate complex systems alone.

The most rewarding part of her job?

“Seeing the shift in people. Watching them come in stressed or broken down, and then seeing hope start to return.”

To her, hope looks like a second chance.

Growth From the Inside Out

For someone who once questioned her own worth, working at Caritas has been transformational.

“Caritas has been like a college for me. It sharpened me.”

She speaks openly about the fact that the organization didn’t have to give her an opportunity — but they did.

“They saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself.”

That belief changed everything.

“I’m a better mother. A better friend. A better human being because of this place.”

There are days that are challenging. The work requires mental strength, compassion, and boundaries. But what motivates Susanna is simple:

“As long as I help at least one person in a day, I feel like my day has purpose.”

She describes growth like climbing a ladder.

“Anybody can get to the top of the ladder. The hard part is staying there. Every day, I remind myself how far I’ve come — and I keep climbing.”

Going back to prison. Going back to addiction. Going back to homelessness — those are not options.

And today, they don’t define her.

More Than a Food Pantry

If Susanna could tell the community one thing about Caritas, it would be this:

“We’re more than a food pantry.”

Yes, food matters. But so do utilities, federal benefits assistance, insurance navigation, case management, and long-term stability support. Caritas serves East Waco, West Waco, Northside, and Southside — reaching across the entire community.

“Let’s keep making a difference,” she says. “Why stop at one area? Why not reach everywhere we can?”

For Susanna, the heart of Caritas is simple.

“It’s the people.”

And for someone who once needed a second chance, Caritas became the place where hope wasn’t just offered — it was lived.