Conversations with Kristine Foster

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristine Foster.

Hi Kristine, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Most people involved with Hope On The Streets have experienced homelessness, hunger, and uncertainty, which sometimes resulted in difficult choices and prison. My husband Shane and I have been together since 2005, and we were both incarcerated in 2007. Shane served ten years and was released in 2017. It was my first felony, and I signed for fifteen years, serving fourteen. During my time in prison, I joined a retention job called Televerde, which had a big impact on me. After several attempts, I was hired once I reclassed to minimum, and this gave me hope. I focused on gaining marketable skills to avoid repeating past mistakes. When Shane was released, he started rebuilding his life. I worked hard during my last five years, saving almost $25,000, which helped me buy a car and, six months after release, my first home. I transitioned to a corporate Televerde job, worked on various campaigns, and eventually moved into my current role. Now, I work remotely with a Fortune 500 company, and it has truly changed my life.

Last April, Shane and I decided to give back in ways that resonated with our own experiences. Since we both work full time, we dedicated our Sundays to finding and supporting individuals facing similar challenges we once did. We began with a cooler of water, Gatorade, and some snacks, and soon started seeing familiar faces, eventually helping about twenty-five people each week. We later added hygiene kits on the first Sunday of every month, and our family and friends joined in to help. After six months, we noticed people began to rely on us and appreciated our consistent presence. Encouraged by my best friend, I started a non-profit, and by September, we became an official 501(c)(3) organization.

We received a few small grants, which enabled us to provide nearly seventy Thanksgiving meals and close to one hundred meals with gift bags at Christmas. We are passionate about our mission and have discussed additional programs we hope to introduce under Hope On The Streets. The process for a homeless person to access a shelter can sometimes discourage them, so we are considering ways to reduce the waiting period and better address each individual’s unique needs. We continue to collaborate with other non-profits to ensure we have the necessary resources for everyone.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We continue to encounter struggles and challenges and do our best to address them. Each week, we learn more about what individuals need and work to better prepare ourselves for similar situations in the future. For instance, during outreach, we were asked to assist someone in getting to detox. This is a common request, and the next time we were ready with resources, information about requirements, and transportation if necessary.

Another example is when someone needed basic resources, such as an ID and birth certificate. Now that we have these resources available, whenever we identify obstacles to accessing resources, we immediately start working on the next steps to assist.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I work remotely for a Fortune 500 company in the IT sector. While at Televerde, I developed strong communication and rapport-building skills, and learned how to effectively engage with clients as a Sales Development Representative. I consistently performed at a high level on every campaign I joined, generating revenue, pipeline, and meetings for the account executives I supported.

I specialize on assisting customers through inbound chats and calls. My goal is to provide a great customer experience by responding promptly to their inquiries about our services.

I am especially proud of reaching over a million dollars in one year through an HR campaign, for which I received a certificate from the company’s CMO.

My strong work ethic distinguishes me. I remain highly focused and consistently rely on metrics to guide my performance. I’ve also realized the importance of being memorable to take advantage of future opportunities.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Past mistakes do not determine who you are. Continue moving ahead and strive to become the best version of yourself. Having the ability to help others is one of the most rewarding experiences.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hopeonthestreet.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaneswife77/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582120373857
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/sales/company/108698332