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Ms. Donna Ferrato
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Standing between their bunk beds, Margie admires her four sons: Johnny, 13, Pierre, 11, Jamont, 9, and Johnnell, 11. She always took care of her kids until she fell in love with a drug addict and became addicted herself. Her children's world fell apart and they became homeless residents at the mission. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.
Standing between their bunk beds, Margie admires her four sons: Johnny, 13, Pierre, 11, Jamont, 9, and Johnnell, 11. She always took care of her kids until she fell in love with a drug addict and became addicted herself. Her children's world fell apart and they became homeless residents at the mission. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.
Donna Ferrato 1999
Artwork
It's 3:00 a.m. No way to sleep. Imaginary bedbugs chewing at me. The air is oppressive, like being buried alive. The cries of asthmatic children sniffling, screaming, sleep-talking keeps me on edge. In semi-darkness I wander among the beds, seeing mothers wrapped around their babies, like bears in hibernation. In one lower bunk, I find an exhausted mother, Pam, rocking her wailing week-old daughter. Pams face glows with inner peace. She is one of the lucky ones. She escaped an abusive relationship and found shelter here. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.
It's 3:00 a.m. No way to sleep. Imaginary bedbugs chewing at me. The air is oppressive, like being buried alive. The cries of asthmatic children sniffling, screaming, sleep-talking keeps me on edge. In semi-darkness I wander among the beds, seeing mothers wrapped around their babies, like bears in hibernation. In one lower bunk, I find an exhausted mother, Pam, rocking her wailing week-old daughter. Pams face glows with inner peace. She is one of the lucky ones. She escaped an abusive relationship and found shelter here. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.
Donna Ferrato 1999
Artwork
Margie's son, Jamont, 9, watches from his perch on a bunk bed as his mother chooses a dress for her job-training class. In the United States an alarming number of children are homeless. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.
Margie's son, Jamont, 9, watches from his perch on a bunk bed as his mother chooses a dress for her job-training class. In the United States an alarming number of children are homeless. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.
Donna Ferrato 1999
Artwork
Artwork
The Olive Branch is a dark, oppressive space, but it gets the message across to the women who stay there that the solutions to their problems are in their own hands. Ignoring distractions, Margie finishes her homework for job-training class. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.
The Olive Branch is a dark, oppressive space, but it gets the message across to the women who stay there that the solutions to their problems are in their own hands. Ignoring distractions, Margie finishes her homework for job-training class. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.
Donna Ferrato 1999
Artwork
Artwork
7:00 A.M.: Margie rides the train to her job-training class in downtown Chicago. Accompanying her is Cherilyn, a resident at the Olive Branch who recently found a job as a home-care worker.
7:00 A.M.: Margie rides the train to her job-training class in downtown Chicago. Accompanying her is Cherilyn, a resident at the Olive Branch who recently found a job as a home-care worker.
Donna Ferrato 1999
Artwork
Artwork
At 5:45 a.m.Tuesday morning, Margie sprints out of bed to wash and dress herself for her second day of job training at CARA in downtown Chicago. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.
At 5:45 a.m.Tuesday morning, Margie sprints out of bed to wash and dress herself for her second day of job training at CARA in downtown Chicago. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.
Donna Ferrato 1999
Artwork
I rarely saw kids in the shelter play. Shelter life is a serious game. This baby waits anxiously for his mama to take him to bed. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.
I rarely saw kids in the shelter play. Shelter life is a serious game. This baby waits anxiously for his mama to take him to bed. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.
Donna Ferrato 1999