Sometimes even though a parent loves, cares for, and wants the very best for their children, they simply can’t provide for their family as well as they wish they could. “Emmy’s” dad, “Mr. Andrews,” is a single parent. To Emmy, her dad is a hero. Mr. Andrews works a job that requires long hours, often during the time when his kids are home from school. He can’t afford a place to live just for himself, Emmy, and her brother, “Brandon,” so the Andrews live with other people, and Emmy and Brandon are often left alone with their roommates on weekends.
Nearly three years ago Emmy began attending Safe Youth Project, a program of Second Story in the Community. She loved coming to a safe, fun place after school rather than going home alone to the other people who lived in their apartment. She didn’t have to think about making dinner for herself and her young brother, or worrying if there wasn’t any food – she ate with her friends at the program instead. When Brandon was old enoug, he began coming to the program too.
Emmy loves school, though at home she had a hard time focusing on her homework and her dad didn’t have time to answer her questions. Now she always asks for help from the volunteers and the program coordinator and works hard to get all A’s and B’s. Emmy also has someone to talk to about how she feels; she tells the program coordinator when she is sad or down about missing her dad and gets relief from sharing her emotions. Mr. Andrews is thankful, too. Now he doesn’t have to worry about his kids in the afternoons, and he knows there are other people in the community working to help them reach their full potential.
