“Home means peace, love and community” Donna said. When asked if those were present at The Whitehall Apartments, Donna replied “Yes.”

Donna and Calvin are a married couple, about to celebrate their 42nd wedding anniversary, who have been living at The Whitehall Apartments since 2017. It has been a long road to get where they are today, but Donna and Calvin have been by each other’s side every step of the way.

Donna was born and raised in West Philadelphia, while Calvin described himself as more of a floater “I was partially raised in Philadelphia, partially raised in North Carolina, and partially raised in New Jersey.”

You might say their meeting was fate or destiny, “We met when I was 16, got engaged when I was 17 and I was married at 18,” said Donna.

Their fateful meeting was in February 1983 at a movie theater. Calvin was spending time with his family when he met Donna “I came up from Jersey to spend time with my grandmother and my uncle and we went to go to the movies and that’s how I met Donna.”

As Calvin was finishing nearing the end of high school he was already talking to a recruiter to join the U.S. Army, and by October, he headed to basic training. Military service is a feature in both their families; Donna and Calvin have multiple family members who have served. This includes Donna’s father who served as Philadelphia’s first black police officer.

Although distance can be challenging, many people in relationships manage to stay in touch and Donna and Calvin were no different. “We wrote letters,” said Donna. The letters were better because having long-distance phone calls can be costly.

When it came time to pop the big question Calvin did not hesitate “I called her from basic training to propose to her.” They married later in 1984 while Calvin was on break from his duties for the weekend.

After they got married, Donna went with Calvin to Germany and traveled with him until the end of his tour. They settled in Kentucky, where he was last stationed to raise their family, including children who are now 39, 37 and 36. After three years in the U.S. Army and three years in the Army Reserves, it was time to move on.

“We left Kentucky in 1987, and came back to Philadelphia, PA,” said Calvin. “The move was relatively easy because the whole time I was in Germany we were saving money.”

After his time in the military, it was hard for Calvin to find a job. “It was frustrating to me, because now I have my children and wife to care for,” said Calvin. It took a few months, but thanks to a referral from his sister-in-law, Calvin finally found a job as a welder, work he still does. Donna was also working to support the family, taking on roles as a nurse, a teacher and artist over the years. “I had my hand in a lot of things,” she said.

They’ve remained side-by-side in the most difficult times, even when separated – before coming to The Whitehall Apartments Calvin was incarcerated. But this story has a silver lining; for Calvin it came through the transition out of prison. During the transition, he received some assistance from his parole officer connecting him to the Coatesville VA Medical Center where we get many of our referrals from. Due to his service, Calvin qualified for a HUD-VASH voucher and was introduced to The Whitehall Apartments.

“We were told that there weren’t any openings, but maybe a few days later they called me back saying we have an apartment,” said Calvin. “It was a breath of fresh air when we came here,” said Donna.

The rest seems to be history as Donna and Calvin moved in three months after the building was opened and have become pillars in the community at The Whitehall Apartments.

Looking back, Calvin mentioned “I would say the biggest thing would probably be discipline,” when speaking on what his time in service has taught him.

The Resident Services team at The Whitehall Apartments supports residents like Donna and Calvin, with programs and activities supporting their goals. Donna and Calvin recently participated in a money management series that informed residents about steps needed to transition to homeownership. They have also enjoyed the cooking demonstrations that teach residents about using seasonal produce. Donna has big dreams of other programs that would involve her love for music – as a trained cellist, guitarist and singer – and how she can support the Resident Services curriculum.

Regional Director of Resident Services Christian Hobson said “Donna has provided a lot and is very helpful and very respected here within the building. I notice that she gets the respect that she is entitled to, and a lot of people come to her for advice and help.”

Donna and Calvin’s time at The Whitehall Apartments has been filled with peace and joy. The Whitehall Apartments has also become the spot for their extended family for Thanksgiving, inviting dozens of family members to celebrate the holiday in the community room. Donna also extends her home cooking to the other residents, “Every year we make sweet potato pies and sell and give them to families as well. Last year we made 37.”

The front porch of The Whitehall Apartments is one of Donna’s favorite spots and it is a wish that has come full circle. “I told my husband when I was 16 that I want to retire with you and sit on the porch and rock, and now we sit on the porch and rock on the rockers,” said Donna.