Today we’d like to introduce you to Meghan DeLuca.
Hi Meghan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey to becoming the Executive Director of Thrive is a testament to the resilience and transformative power of support. My personal experiences, particularly during my difficult teenage years, teenage pregnancy, and the time I spent in a maternity home, have profoundly shaped my commitment to empowering the women at Thrive. My adolescence was marked by adversity, navigating the challenges many young individuals face. My life journey took an unexpected turn when I found myself navigating the complexities of teenage pregnancy and faced with difficult decisions; my story took a pivotal turn when I made the courageous choice to carry my pregnancy to term, a decision rooted in my birth mother’s pro-life choice.
During my pregnancy, I was placed in a maternity home, which became a pivotal turning point in my life. The resources provided in the maternity home not only assisted me in navigating the challenges of motherhood but also laid the groundwork for my personal growth and development. This experience proved to be transformative for me, altering the trajectory of my life and instilling in me a deep empathy for the struggles faced by other women in similar situations. I discovered the importance of comprehensive support, education, and community in the maternity home. I not only finished high school but graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a Bachelor of Science – concentrating on Non-Profit Management, had two more children, and most recently, a beautiful grandson.
Fast forward to the present, I bring a wealth of my life experiences to my role as the leader of Thrive. Thrive stands as more than a residential program; it is a beacon of hope for women in crisis, unplanned pregnancies, and those seeking to reunite with their children. The comprehensive support offered at Thrive, encompassing education, career development, life skills, parenting, and counseling services, truly reflects my commitment to empowerment. In conclusion, my transformative journey has become the driving force behind Thrive’s mission. In 2023, Thrive provided 8,444 days of safe housing for moms and their children, 25,332 meals provided, and 18,701 hours of childcare in our Early Childhood Development Center. Thrive offers practical assistance and fosters community support that understands the depth of each woman’s journey, offering support that goes beyond the surface and echoes the resilience that defines my own story.
Through the challenges I faced in my teenage years and the transformative experience of being in a maternity home, I learned the importance of comprehensive support and community. At Thrive, I am working hard to live on a mission, ensuring that every woman who walks through our doors finds shelter and a supportive community that believes in her potential.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My adolescence was marked by adversity, navigating the challenges many young individuals face. My life journey took an unexpected turn when I found myself navigating the complexities of teenage pregnancy and faced with difficult decisions; my story took a pivotal turn when I made the courageous choice to carry my pregnancy to term, a decision rooted in my birth mother’s pro-life choice.
During my pregnancy, I was placed in a maternity home, which became a pivotal turning point in my life. The resources provided in the maternity home not only assisted me in navigating the challenges of motherhood but also laid the groundwork for my personal growth and development.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us more about your business.
Thrive is a residential program for women in crisis or unplanned pregnancies, single mothers and their children, and mothers who are working on a reunification plan with their children. We are a haven, removing the barriers such as food insecurity and warm, safe housing. We provide comprehensive education, career development, life skills, parenting, and counseling services in a safe, secure home. Our goal is to empower them through life planning strategies to change the trajectory of their lives and become self-supporting. Thrive is unique in that we are dual-focused on restoring hope in the heart of the mother who has experienced homelessness, domestic violence, extreme poverty, and violence, which in turn saves the child from experiencing the same traumas; our program addresses the mental and physical, and emotional needs of both. A woman who makes the brave decision to come to Thrive is given hope and opportunity through scholarship opportunities and no-cost childcare for her child(ren). At the same time, she pursues her education and career initiatives. In 2023, Thrive provided 8,444 days of safe housing for moms and their children, 25,332 meals provided, and 18,701 hours of childcare in our Early Childhood Development Center.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check?
- Apps: Kindle (I am an avid reader), Bible App for daily devos, Outlook as it runs the day for me
- Books: I love true crime, mysteries, courtroom dramas, and political thrillers. They help me escape from the challenges we see on a daily.
- Podcasts: Craig Groeschel, Global Leadership Podcast, Pregnancy Help Podcast, BaschAMania (I am a HUGE Penn State wrestling fan)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thriveswfl.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thriveswfl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThriveSWFL/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/76581818/admin/feed/posts/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Fthriveswfl
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnELZLjdHdBEykGTx6vtHuw
Image Credits
True Perception Images
