Gwendolyn “Dream” Milton with a shopper at Catholic Charities’ WIC Grocery store in Chicago’s South Chicago neighborhood. “When I meet parents who are overwhelmed, I tell them I’ve been in their shoes and I know this is not the end of their story.”

“I didn’t know I was pregnant until I was five and a half months along,” says Dream Milton, about her first pregnancy at the age of 14. This was in 1980, and luckily, her grandmother, Loretta Miller, worked as a secretary at Catholic Charities. She enrolled Dream in Arts of Living, a former school for pregnant teens, and referred her to the Roseland Adolescent Parenting Program (RAPP), which is still in operation.

At Arts of Living, Dream studied home economics, her baby’s development, and what to expect during delivery. After school, she went to RAPP, where she prepared herself for the emotional transition to motherhood. Looking back, Dream doesn’t know where she would have been without Catholic Charities. “I was so lost,” she says.

Two years ago, Dream returned to Catholic Charities, but this time as a nutrition associate for WIC Grocery. In her job, she shares recipes, nutrition and shopping advice, cooking tips, and lots of hugs. “The parents I meet are carrying so much,” she says. “I tell them WIC Grocery is not just a food store, we’re part of Catholic Charities. We can help.”

In addition to our WIC Grocery Market stores, Catholic Charities also launched a Mobile Market on Chicago’s west side. Learn more.

Forty-five years after she asked for help for herself, Dream says she’s living her calling. “I’ve never been happier.”

By making a gift to Catholic Charities of Chicago, you will help provide shelter, food, and clothing while promoting the dignity of every family.