Living Opportunities client could use new clothes and a sturdy couch
Published 8:45 am Wednesday, December 11, 2024
- Hope for the Holidays (web)
A disabled, transgender Medford resident is hoping for independence, acceptance and maybe even a sturdy new couch for Christmas.
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The 33-year-old Living Opportunities client moved to Medford at the age of 15 and navigated developmental disabilities to graduate from Crater High School in 2010.
Enrollment in a post-high-school transition program in Eagle Point taught the man vital life skills such as grocery shopping and job training, and laid a foundation for lifelong independence, which helped the man to secure his first apartment.
Living Opportunities CEO Jim Norris said the man has made great strides after facing a range of personal challenges, including gender transition, but remains steadfast in his commitment to living his truth.
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Living now as a transgender man, he describes the experience as life-changing, giving him a renewed sense of self-confidence and comfort in his own skin.
“I feel like I am finally a truer version of myself,” the man told Norris, reflecting on the journey that has brought him to this point. Transition has been pivotal in reshaping his self-identity and feeling more at ease in his physical appearance.
Despite the progress he’s made, the man faces ongoing financial challenges. While getting used to life in his own space, the recent loss of a roommate leaves him in a tight situation as he works to cover rent and daily expenses on his own.
He also is without a sturdy couch, as well as clothing that reflects his gender identity, which would help him feel more comfortable in his living space.
Norris said the man’s story is “a reminder of the strength and resilience it takes to live authentically, and how community support can make a meaningful difference in helping individuals thrive.”
Community members interested in supporting the man in his journey can reach out to Living Opportunities.
In addition to needing a sturdy couch for his living space, the man could use men’s clothing — size 4XL shirt, 3XL pants — and comfortable size 11 shoes suitable for winter weather.
Donations or cash gift cards, sent to Living Opportunities for the man, would be put toward the purchase of a couch. Additional household needs include cookware.
To provide support to this man, contact Living Opportunities by phone, 541-772-1503, or contact Norris by email at jim@livingopps.org.
Hope for the Holidays is a series sponsored by the Rogue Valley Times that focuses on community members or families in need and highlights the work of social service agencies in Southern Oregon. Once a need is filled, donations may be distributed to others in need.
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