Editor’s note: The following profile was submitted by Aspire Health Alliance for The Patriot Ledger’s Lend a Hand campaign. The person’s name has been changed to protect their privacy.

Erin struggled after college. It was a difficult transition, and her drug use made things worse. She ended up hospitalized at age 28, and repeated hospitalizations followed. She spent time in a homeless shelter.

She now lives in a group home in Braintree and is making progress. She is looking for a job; attends bi-weekly therapy sessions; joined the Atlantic Clubhouse in Quincy, an organization that supports those with mental health struggles; and plans to return to a master’s program in nonprofit management.

“I am considered disabled for psychiatric reasons, but am recovering,” she told Aspire Health Alliance.

She receives Social Security Disability Income and food stamps, and has been approved for a Department of Mental Health rental assistance housing voucher.

“The most difficult personal aspects of this way of life, for me, is the stigma,” she said. “Knowing that I do not work right now, and that everyone seems so different from me when I go out places, is the most difficult.”

She is looking forward to having an apartment, and hopes Lend a Hand can help her furnish it.

“Lend a Hand would help me by allowing me to create a home space that I can feel comfortable in,” she said. “Having been to a homeless shelter, this is the most important thing to me in life. This is why I am so grateful for the (group living environment), but it is time to move on from it.”

Who does Lend a Hand help?

Donations to Lend a Hand help fund the social services programs and resources for its three partner organizations: the South Shore Community Action Council, Quincy Community Action Programs Inc. and Aspire Health Alliance. Lend a Hand only takes monetary donations, which go to the agencies. We invite you to open your heart and wallet to help your South Shore neighbors.

About Lend a Hand

Lend a Hand, The Patriot Ledger’s annual holiday charitable program, began in 1998 and has raised more than $3.3 million for South Shore families and people in need.

How to donate to Lend a Hand

Donating is easy. In the print edition of The Patriot Ledger, look for a coupon to cut out and send with your check or money order. It’s amazing how many people take the time to clip the coupon, fill it out and take it to the post office. It’s very inspiring and the reason why we continue.

There are three ways to give:

• First, there’s the coupon in the newspaper. Please note the new address (3 Webster Square PMB #467 Marshfield, MA 02050) to send donations to as well as the other instructions on the coupon.

• You can donate securely online through PayPal. All credit cards are accepted, and you don’t need a PayPal account. Search: Ledger Lend a Hand Foundation.

• Call our friends at Ansaphone at 617-424-9825 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

If you have questions about The Patriot Ledger’s Lend a Hand campaign, email newsroom@patriotledger.com and put “Lend a Hand 2023” in the subject line.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Erin struggled after college. She’s healing, but could use some help