On the first week of school I had a newly enrolled student come to my office because she had just become homeless. This student’s experience was very traumatic, and she had no system of support. While trying to find her a shelter to go to, our backup plan was for her to move in with a school friend. At the end of the day this was the only option this seventeen-year-old student had.
This family that consisted of a single mom, eighteen year old daughter, and fifteen year old son graciously accepted my homeless student into their home. They too were going through hard times but felt called to support this young lady through her own time of need.
About a month later, I received a desperate phone call from this mom. She had just lost her job and did not know how she was going to pay rent because she only had $100 to her name. Like many people who try to live life, spend time with their families, and deal with trials, this family had one trial arise that seemed to paralyze them and strip them of the basic need of housing.
I asked if it was time for my student to move on to a new home, and the mom insisted she stay with them no matter where they go. As I spent the day discussing scenarios with her of friends and family she could call upon or shelters she might qualify for, one door after another seem to close before us.
With two hours left in the day I began feeling defeated myself and approached Allison Stamey, Lewisville High School’s Student Council teacher, and asked for help. Within three hours the Student Council came up with an anonymous donation of $650. This covered a deposit and two week stay for the mom to be able to save and get back up on her feet.
The following Monday I received a phone call from the Student Council office. They had collected $200 in groceries items and $145 in Walmart gift cards that they would like to donate to this family. The family and my student were grateful for the donation. That same day the mom also received wonderful news that she had two jobs interviews.
It is with a community of support from the Student Council at Lewisville High School that our kids are able to be taken care of, our families can be supported during their trials, and most importantly, it is one more barrier that is torn down that stands in the way of a student staying in school and graduating.
