Meet Miriam,* a current student at Shade school.
Miriam is one of several students who has had to move in with a foster family near our campus just to be close enough to attend school. Miriam’s biological family lives about 16 miles from Shade school, and the distance is too far for her to safely and easily travel every day.
Her foster mother, Zuri,* is a single mom with albinism who works to support four children while paying rent on her own. She works at a local pharmacy, and cares for Miriam and three other children. Zuri has done her best to provide a safe and caring home for Miriam, but life is not always easy. Raising multiple children and meeting daily expenses is difficult. Zuri’s house is about 5 miles from Shade’s campus, so Miriam is now able to ride to school on a Shade school bus each day.
For Miriam and other students living with foster families, having a home at Shade would give them the stable environment they need to allow them to focus on learning and enjoying their childhoods. It would also bring comfort to their families, knowing that their children have a secure place to live and to learn. For the generous foster families that have opened up their homes, it would ease financial burdens and stress.
This home will help to bring a brighter future for students, their families, and our community as a whole.
*names changed for privacy
