|
Through Mare Henderson's work in schools in Charlotte, North Carolina, four friends tune in to the problem of homelessness among young students.
To their astonishment, they find that there are more than 1,800 homeless children in the Charlotte- Mecklenburg School system. Through social service agencies, they identify two families with children who need homes: Wanda, a single mother, and her fourth-grade son Damion—who were living in a van —and single father Karaja Earl,and his third-grade daughter Tanisha, who were staying with a friend.
Mare and her friends Nancy Carlton, Brenda Clough and Kelly Young start with $4,000 in challenge money and then raise another $1,000. But, that isn't all. They are able to get a matching donation, which brings their grand total to $10,000!
The money is enough to lease an apartment for each family for a year. Friends, neighbors and local stores also donate household supplies and groceries to welcome them to their new home.
Tanisha "jumped up and down when she saw her own room!" Nancy says. "Damion was quiet but had already invited seven friends to spend the night next weekend."
"This is like hitting the lotto," Karaja Earl says. "Just to be able to get up and see [Tanisha] smiling … man, thank ya'll."
Keep Reading
