Some people live to help others, and Amy Hunter is one of those rare souls. A caretaker by nature, Amy works as a home health aide by day and mother and grandmother when she’s not at work. Her reputation for kindheartedness extends to everyone she knows.
Amy came to Lincoln over 15 years ago, leaving behind an abusive relationship and all that she knew. She and her three daughters packed the car and came to Lincoln fired by the fumes of this steadfast mother’s determination to start something new.
Because of the brave steps of one woman, many lives in Lincoln have been changed. Over the years, Amy has seen many young women sweep into her life. She says her daughters have had countless friends who’ve come to her when they had no one else. Many of these girls have unstable home lives. They don’t know where to turn.
A humble advocate for women’s rights, Amy believes in helping young women become empowered. She chooses to see the beauty in those around her and encourages young women especially to keep hope alive. The road has not been without strife, of course. Amy says she has been stolen from and hurt by those she’s helped a couple of times, but she considers it a privilege to open up her life and home to girls who desperately need a beacon of light.
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Nothing Amy does is about the pomp and circumstance. It’s not about the recognition. She says she loves people the way she does simply because it comes naturally. A believer in the power of little gifts, Amy is always cooking up extra food to feed any bellies that might come through her door. It’s the little things, she says, that make a difference.
When asked about specific experiences in serving young women, Amy remembers once helping reunite a teenage girl with her family. The young woman had come to Amy seeking solace and refuge, but Amy offered something better: hope of restored relationships within the girl’s own family. Restoring relationships is just one of many things in which, Amy says, she has been privileged to partake.
Because her first marriage was such an abusive experience, Amy is adamant about helping other women break free. It is with authenticity and sensitivity that she shares her story with those who might find her “happy ending” encouraging. She shares with others what it was like to live in such an abusive environment for so many years, and what it’s like to have left it all behind. And she hopes that her vulnerability makes a difference for others.
Amy and her current husband have now been together for more than 15 years, and together they are a powerful force for good in the Lincoln community. Amy says that while things haven’t been perfect for them, they’ve always risen above whatever challenges have come. They’ve made it a marital mission to love and serve everyone in any way they can.
Today, Amy still lives in Lincoln where she spends plenty of time with her wonderful husband, three daughters and her grandchildren. She continues to foster relationships with those around her and to live a meaningful life, one that will leave a loving legacy.
“It’s simple,” Amy says. “Use what you have, share what you have, and don’t pass blind judgment. You just never know somebody’s story.”