My name is Rebecca Welch, and I’m the mother of two incredible kids — King Asiel, who’s in fifth grade, and Ahziah Asiel, my fourth grader. They both attend South Daytona Elementary.
This past year has been one of constant balancing and rebuilding. I’ve been working long hours, and even with food stamps, it’s hard to keep up with everything my kids need. We originally moved to Florida so I could gain custody of my nephew, but soon after, a hurricane hit and we lost everything. For a year, the kids and I lived with a relative while we tried to get back on our feet. They bounced between schools, couldn’t settle in, and had a hard time making friends.
Recently, we finally got a house of our own, but then my car broke down, and it felt like every step forward came with something pushing us back. Through it all, my kids remained my strength. For the first time in a long time, they’re excited to go to school, and a big part of that is because of the Food Brings Hope’s KidsZone program.
Ahziah has started making friends and says she finally feels like she’s part of a team. She has dreams of becoming an astronaut one day, and tutoring has helped her build confidence, so much that she earned a school award for perseverance and math improvement. King is proud to be a safety patrol, always looking out for others. In many ways, they’ve found a family at their school within the KidsZone program.
FBH Community has also helped ease the pressure at home. Our food stamps only go so far, and the monthly food box makes a real difference for us. We weren’t sure how we would make Thanksgiving happen this year, but then we were notified by FBH Community that we will be receiving a Thanksgiving food box and it felt like an answer from God. I’m so grateful for this program and the way it supports not just my children’s learning, but our whole family’s hope.
About this series: FBH Community fosters programs that tackle the root causes of generational poverty. Its initiatives include Food Brings Hope’s KidsZone, TeenZone, FBHonors, Change the Code, and the Lemerand Center of Excellence at Daytona State College. Other FBHC programs include VCan, focused on ending hunger and homelessness among youth and families with children; Homes Bring Hope, which creates homeownership opportunities for working families; and the Prosperity Initiative, helping families achieve stability and advancement. Because the Hosseini Family Foundation covers the overhead costs, 100% of donations directly support programs and families. This holiday season, The News-Journal is spotlighting FBH Community by sharing stories from its participants and families. To contribute or donate a holiday gift, visit FBHCommunity.org, email info@FBHCommunity.org or call 386-317-5767.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Stories of Hope: Food Brings Hope continues to make a difference in Daytona community
Reporting by Staff Report, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
