"I'm a recovering alcoholic addict. His dad was still drinking. I wanted a better future for my son and I knew I had to leave," Manzo said.
The Eli Home has helped women like Manzo for nearly 30 years. The shelter, however, is now facing its own crisis. The board of directors says it will have to close unless it can raise $200,000 by the end of December.
Officials at the Eli Home say donations over the years have dropped in half and many of their major donors are focusing on supporting more permanent housing instead of transitional shelters.
"So many of the families who come to us come from very desperate emergency situations, when they just need to leave wherever they are and they're not quite ready to go into permanent housing," said Lorri Galloway, executive director of the Eli Home.
The seven-bedroom home has a waiting list.
"I was a very neglectful mother because of my addiction. They were in the foster system for almost a year," said Danielle Moser.
Moser admits the counseling and parenting skills she received helped her reunite with her children.
"The Eli Home really helped me learn what I never was taught," she said.
Moser's husband is now back with the family and the shelter helped them find permanent housing.
"I feel blessed, I do," Moser said.
On this Giving Tuesday, the non-profit hopes others will think of this haven. If you'd like to help, visit the Eli home website.
