Christmas is a day to be with family and be merry, but for Twanna Fowler and others like her, the holidays can bring back painful memories.

For decades, Fowler lived through the terror of being a domestic violence victim. Fowler’s last Christmas spent with family was 20 years ago.

“The Christmas season is a hard time. It’s lonely.”

She eventually discovered the Gospel Rescue Mission in Tucson.

These days, Fowler’s family has been the 80 or so women at the Mission. From sharing life stories to volunteering in the community, the road to happiness and independence is one not walked alone.

“The goal is to begin to build new memories to begin to provide hope for change in their lives and the joy of Christ at Christmas,” said Dee Cardinale, recovery services coordinator.

While the holidays may evoke emotions of a difficult past, Cardinale hopes the women also embrace a little Christmas cheer.

“Christmas isn’t about the drinking and the drugging and the family fights that many of them have experienced. But it’s about celebrating and serving and being joyous.”

People from the community will welcome women and children from the Gospel Rescue Mission into their homes on Sunday, helping to make Christmas merry and bright.

“If it weren’t for people adopting families or single women it would probably be even sadder for a lot of women,” Fowler said. “But getting the gifts that we receive from the people, it helps lift spirits.”

For more information on the Gospel Rescue Mission’s Adopt-a-family program for this Christmas, click here: https://www.facebook.com/GRMTucson/