Soul Stories: Meet Cheri

Series: Soul Stories of Anchor Lancaster

“I’m more of a listener than a talker,” Cheri says with a soft smile. Sitting at a table at Anchor Lancaster’s Day Center, she reflects on the winding path that led her here. Ten years ago, she was homeless for the first time in Lancaster but moved to South Dakota for a new start. This past December, she and her son moved back to the area but had nowhere to live, and she found herself on the streets once again. She ended up in the hospital, and a staff member there told her about Anchor Lancaster and other organizations who could help.

For Cheri, Anchor Lancaster is more than just a free breakfast. It’s a place to find warmth, a hot shower, and a little peace in a chaotic world. “I look forward to showers and having a place to stay during the day. And I like the food—though I wish we had eggs and bacon more often,” she adds with a laugh. “The people here are nice. They can help you get what you need, like clothes. I needed shirts, and they helped me. It’s a nice place. It’s clean, and they make you feel welcome.”

Life on the streets has taught Cheri many hard lessons. “Don’t trust no one,” she advises. “But you still need people—someone to talk to, someone to help you figure out where you’re going and what you’re doing each day. You just have to be careful who you hang out with. You gotta watch your stuff and keep it with you all the time. I like to help people, but you also have to look out for yourself.”

Her resilience shines through as she talks about her hopes for the future. In a month, she plans to move in with her son, who got a job when they first arrived in Lancaster and is working hard to save up for a place. “Hopefully, I’ll be out of here and somewhere warm and safe.”

Despite the struggles, Cheri holds onto hope and determination. “If I didn’t have the overnight shelter or Anchor, I don’t know where I’d be,” she says as her voice shakes. “I’m just glad I have somewhere to go.”