Category: Client Stories

Patrice moved to Seattle with her family in the first grade. Living almost her entire life in the neighborhoods of South Seattle, she wanted to be more involved in the community once she started raising a family of her own.  Patrice began volunteering for the Boys and Girls Clubs of King County, eventually leading to… Read Full Article >

Kathleen was born in 1946 and raised in West Seattle. She has lived around the city but has always loved the West Seattle area where she grew up. Kathleen worked for Boeing, then transitioned to an independent contractor role. After the 2008 recession hit her income dropped by at least 45%. Then she was injured… Read Full Article >

Katherine came to Byrd Barr Place during a desperate time in her life. Born and raised in Seattle, she bought her first home in West Seattle. She has worked in healthcare for over 15 years, then opened up her own social work practice. In recent years, she became a full time caregiver for her mother…. Read Full Article >

Byrd Barr Place was contacted by Jean’s daughter Stacy who was looking for help for her mother. Jean has a chronic respiratory illness which requires her to use medical life support equipment at home. Since Jean is unable to work, meeting expenses can always be challenging. Stacy is usually able to help but has had… Read Full Article >

“I’ve been so worried about how I’m going to make it. My kids are everything and I hate that they have to go through this.” Constance, a domestic violence survivor, relocated to Seattle in January of ‘14 after escaping an abusive partner. She and her kids slept on couches and in their car until she… Read Full Article >

“I can’t thank you enough for everything that you have done for me. I’ll be okay after this.  You have helped a lot.” Joshua was a single dad facing not only disconnection of his electricity but also eviction from his apartment which he shares with his young son. After only working part-time for most of… Read Full Article >

April moved to Seattle from California in the 70’s and never looked back. As single mother of four, she had to work hard to make it and was always encouraged by the opportunity and beauty that the Pacific Northwest provided.  April worked many different jobs but spending time with children had always been her passion…. Read Full Article >

Bernice applied for Energy Assistance and assumed that her holidays would be warm and comfortable after receiving a new delivery of heating oil. Thankful for the warmer than usual weather that Seattle was experiencing, she was happy to be able to use her furnace sparingly so that her oil would stretch as far as possible…. Read Full Article >

A true “child of the 60s,” 72-year-old Lorraine Campbell is a warm, upbeat, free-spirited woman with a wealth of life experience. She is a three-time cancer survivor. She’s also a published author, and is currently working on a memoir which she hopes to fund through an Artist Trust Fellowship. Yet despite living life to the… Read Full Article >