DDHF Back-to-School Event: A Day of Blessing & Community

Dailonna's Family Giving Back to the Community in Cleveland, Ohio Article Written by: La'Shenna Clark

The Back-to-School Event we hosted in Cleveland, Ohio was nothing short of amazing. The event was filled with good vibes, good food, great music and an atmosphere of unity and love. What made it even more meaningful was having Momma Trecie’s (Dailonna’s) grandchildren involved -it was a full circle moment that reminded us of the true purpose behind our mission.

We were blessed by a generous donation from a fellow vendor who chose to remain anonymous. That selfless act helped us make an even greater impact. But what happened toward the end of the day was the true icing on the cake.

As we were wrapping things up, a woman and her child approached, asking to speak with someone about book bags. Ms. Tracey, Director of the YMCA, brought her over to speak with my dad (Apostle Jacob Dozier) and shared her story. The woman was Nedra, a social worker supporting victims of a massive fire that devastated our Cleveland community just a month ago. That tragedy claimed the life of an extraordinary man who gave his own life trying to save others from the flames. His sacrifice left a lasting mark on our hearts. The fire left hundreds displaced and in need.

Nedra was simply asking for a few book bags to help ease the burden on the families she serves. But what she didn’t know is that God had already prepared the way. Her encounter with us was no accident. Because of the generosity of our donors and the vision behind DDHF, we were able to bless her with the remaining book bags -giving families a small light during a dark time.

 But God wasn’t done. He had been putting the pieces together all along. It started with a simple “no” -a “no” that led my dad, Apostle Jacob Dozier, to bring all his grandchildren together in Ohio. That was the beginning. On July 25th, the final piece was placed. What we thought were random acts and small moments were actually puzzle pieces leading up to something much greater.

We now realize that this event, this divine alignment, was part of something bigger than us. And the impact did not go unnoticed -DDHF is now officially recognized on the YMCA’s Community Partners list. Ms. Tracey shared her heartfelt appreciation for our work, and her gratitude was a  powerful reminder of why we do what we do.

This experience has deeply moved me. It reinforced our purpose and showed us that we are making real, lasting change. We will continue moving forward with faith, compassion and unity -because we are DDHF. And together, we are one.