Two years ago, Lisa’s family’s world was turned upside down. Her husband, Charles, was a manager at a large tech retailer, working hard to achieve a promotion. But with the economy suffering and companies making cuts, his superiors had other plans in mind.
They were downsizing and Charles was one of many caught in the unforeseen purge.
“It was like watching dominos fall. Everything we had built started to fall apart,” Lisa says emotionally. “I really started to wonder how we were going to keep the lights on and put food on the table.”
Despite their struggles, Lisa and Charles worked hard to shield their sons from the worst of their troubles. For as long as they could manage, they kept them in their after-school activities. The boys loved playing sports and attending music lessons, but eventually there simply wasn’t any room in the family’s budget.
After that, their eldest became withdrawn, his grades slipping without the outlet of soccer practice to relieve stress. And their youngest told them he was dreading school, scared that he’d feel left out of things his peers were getting to do.
“It was heartbreaking to see them lose access to the activities that brought them joy and helped them excel,” Lisa shared, her voice thick with concern. “I just want my kids to walk into school with their heads held high, feeling confident and a sense of belonging with their peers.”
As you can imagine, Lisa wasn’t looking forward to the school season this September — all the extra expenses like supplies, travel and technology felt insurmountable.
Fortunately, she heard about our back-to-school event for low-income families who need a little extra help equipping their children for the classroom in the fall! A place where every child has the chance to receive a backpack filled to the brim with brand-new, age-appropriate school supplies.
“The change in my boys was immediate. They couldn’t stop smiling and suddenly they were excited about school again,” Lisa shares with gratitude. “That moment gave us not just tools, but hope that this year could really be different. And knowing that we can also visit the Marché for groceries or the Toy Giveaway at Christmas, brings our family so much relief.”
Support from donors like you helps ensure that no child has to go without the essentials needed to nurture growth and success.
Thank you in advance for helping families facing hardship, empowering them to navigate challenging times with dignity and hope.