Zola's Story - Finding Purpose
- Dustin Bowman
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
There is a profound truth in the work of overcoming trauma and addiction: the people closest to the pain are often the ones best equipped to lead the healing.
At Serve City, we often talk about how our community is a network where every single person matters. But networks aren’t just built on policies and structures. Communities are woven together by human beings who refuse to give up on each other. If you want to see what that look likes in action, you only need to look at the front doors of our facility, where you will find Zola.
Today, Zola is an invaluable pillar of our team. Her journey with Serve City didn't start in an office. It started fourteen years ago, in a parking lot.
A Turning Point in the Parking Lot
In 2012, Zola was trapped in an exhausting cycle of heroin addiction and domestic violence. It is a place of profound isolation. A place where the road back to stability feels entirely out of reach. Many of our neighbors are in that place today. Hopeless.
One afternoon, she was invited to an outdoor worship service being hosted right in the parking lot of Serve City. In that unassuming space, surrounded by asphalt and open air, Zola describes being deeply touched by the heart of God. It was a spark of hope in a long season of darkness.
A single afternoon became the catalyst for a total transformation.
Blessed with a resilient spirit and faith that kept her moving forward, she continued to seek support from her community of faith and her family. Zola did the grueling, brave work of overcoming her addiction by surrendering to the heart of Jesus. She found the strength to leave an abusive relationship. And, in a restoration that words can barely do justice, she rebuilt her life and reunited with her sons.
From Guest to Coordinator: The Power of a First Chance
Fast forward to September 2023. Zola came back to Serve City. She was not looking for shelter, she looking to serve. We hired her as a Support Specialist on our third-shift shelter team. It was her very first professional job that has turned into her calling to help others overcome the same struggles she faced in the parking lot.
What happened next is a testament to what happens when you combine lived experience with professional opportunity. Zola didn’t just do her job; she was passionate. She was quickly promoted to Intake Specialist, guiding individuals through the vulnerable, complex process of assessments and initial paperwork. Soon after, she was promoted again to her current role as Intake Coordinator. Today,
Zola is the bridge between Serve City and the broader Butler County support ecosystem for the individuals we serve. She builds and maintains the vital relationships with the community organizations that refer individuals to us, and the partners we rely on to help our participants transition into long-term stability.
Every single day, Zola is the very first interaction most people have when they encounter Serve City in their moments of deepest need. When a neighbor walks through our doors experiencing the terror of homelessness, they aren't met with a bureaucratic barrier. They are met by Zola, someone who looks them in the eye and knows exactly what the view looks like from where they are standing.
The Heartbeat of the Fight: Our Frontline Heroes
Zola’s trajectory highlights the massive, indispensable role that our frontline staff play in the battle to end homelessness and housing instability in Butler County. True social service delivery isn’t just about managing a crisis or filling out forms; it’s about restoring dignity. Our frontline staff are the ones who show up in the middle of the fight, who navigate the complex emotional landscape of trauma, and who provide the steady, consistent presence that our folks need to feel safe.
They are the ones who turn a building into a launchpad for a new life. Zola is a hero of impact, a thread of hope woven deeply into the fabric of Serve City. Her story reminds us that transformation is entirely possible, that employment can be a bridge to empowerment, and that
the fight against homelessness is won on the front lines...one relationship, one intake, and one restored life at a time.
Join the Fight: How You Can Be a Hero Today
Zola’s story is a beautiful reminder that transformation is a team effort. The battle to end homelessness, housing instability and food insecurity in Butler County doesn't belong to our frontline staff alone...it belongs to all of us. You don't need a professional background in social work to step into the gap and become a hero for your neighbors.
When you serve a hot meal in our shelter, you provide the warmth and dignity that can spark a new beginning.
When you volunteer your time to organize resources, you strengthen the safety net supporting our frontline team.
And when you donate financially, you directly fund the stable bridge that carries individuals from temporary crisis to permanent independence.
Every single hero in our community network matters. Join us today, step into the gaps, and help us write the next success story.
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