Success Stories | Community Support Services

Each client at Community Support Services has their own unique journey to overcome their mental health challenges. We feel fortunate to share some of these success stories with you!

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Unstoppable Determination: Vicki Lee Fletcher’s Journey Back to Work and Wellness

For Vicki Lee Fletcher, the path to wellness has been a testament to sheer determination. Faced with significant physical challenges-including undergoing multiple hand and knee surgeries-Vicki…

A Home of Her Own: How Resilience and Support Guided MaryEllen Back to Independence

After facing severe health challenges due to a toxic living environment and navigating an abrupt period of housing instability at 72 years old, MaryEllen found a path forward through her own…

A photo of Stanley in a tan jacket and black shirt

Effort, focus equal success for client in recovery

From the time he was young, Stanley A. struggled with anxiety and other mental health disorders. Eventually, those difficulties were compounded by drug use, which led to him dropping out of college…

A photo of Zach, a smiling white man with blonde hair and dark-framed glasses wearing a gray hoodie.

Finding a new life path through sobriety, art

Avoiding substances has been a longtime challenge for Zach, a client at CSS. As a teen, he had easy access to cigarettes through family members and acquaintances. Smoking gave him a buzz and it fit…

A photo of Amanda, a white woman with black, shoulder-length hair, dark-framed glasses, a white winter coat and a gray T-shirt

From homeless to healing

Amanda Tokar’s apartment isn’t what most would call big or fancy. But the cozy one-bedroom is a gleaming mansion compared to the five-foot space she used to curl up in at night – the space inside a…

'You've got to keep going'

Heartbreak led to a downward spiral for Laquan H. Kicked out of his home when he quit college, he tried to build a life while staying with friends, working and saving money. Then things took a tragic…

A person in an apron uses tongs to pick up a small pastry while holding a pastry box in the other hand.

Success through employment

For years, Phyllis expected every job she had to end in failure. Her extreme anxiety created challenges when uncontrollable situations arose at her job. Time after time, she found herself without…

Amazon 'Fulfillment' Job Has Double Meaning For Client

In early 2020, Supported Employment client Heidi Hanes had job offers from various employers in the community, including positions at the Akron Zoo and Canal Park (home to the Akron RubberDucks…

Motivated to Move On

Community Support Services’ Supported Employment client Brad Rankin is a prime example of what someone can achieve with hard work and a positive attitude. The employment department always…

Going Above and Beyond

Robert Anderson was once barely managing to keep afloat, working various jobs, including porter and car detailer for Enterprise Car Rental, and a bell ringer for the Salvation Army. He was…