Summer and the End of the Honeymoon

Brenda and Becky arrived to their new home in the dead of winter. Leaving Uganda and arriving in Boise's winter climate must have been an incredible shock. But they took it in stride, learning to navigate walking on the slippery, ice covered sidewalks. Brenda recalls the agonizing walks home on days the buses quit running before they were able to go back to their end of town. (The difficulty navigating the Boise bus system is a completely post-worthy topic and I'll have to save that for another day.) Now we are in July and the peek of summer heat is upon us. Last week's temperatures of 108 degrees were not much easier to bare than the freezing cold of winter. At least we got the thermostat figured out before the heat hit! (See the "It Got Hot" post.) This week we introduced them to the wonderful world of snow cones and riding scooters down the sidewalk. Brenda did not like the snow cone, because she hates sugary things, so she had plain shaved ice. Becky however will grow up a regular old American kid, and had no trouble with the pink and yellow snow cone.

Brenda is working 5-6 days a week now at Inn America and Becky attends Montessori School 5 days a week and goes to a babysitter on the weekends while Brenda works. Life has settled in for them here in Boise. The primary purpose of the Agency for New Americans is to assist refugees in becoming self-sufficient, knowing that they do not receive much financial support once they arrive in the USA. Brenda receives no housing assistance anymore and only basic food and health care assistance. I'm not sure how much longer her Medicaid insurance will last since she is working now. The honeymoon is officially over for Brenda, and it's now up to her to make sure the bills are getting paid.

For the most part I strive to keep this blog positive, highlighting the adventures and exciting discoveries Brenda and Becky have here. Unfortunately, Brenda is facing a few very real and big challenges ahead of her so I feel like it should be shared here if this is a true account of their first months in Boise.
1. Brenda needs to go to school.
2. Brenda's job is making her sick and is really disgusting.
3. The public transportation system in Boise is so difficult to navigate! Buses are infrequent, the hours of operation are pretty bad, and routes are indirect. She needs to finish drivers training and get a car.

For today's post I'll just take on problem #1.

Brenda is 20 years old, and wants more than anything in this world to be able to go to school. She has an opportunity to study at the Marian Pritchett School until she is 21 years old. It is a free, public school serving teen moms. Although the one year she has left qualifying under this program would not get her a high school diploma nor GED, it would give her the only free option for 9 months of full time school. She needs to be able to do this.

She also needs to be able to pay her bills, which come to around $1000 a month.

Mary, the wonderful woman who owns Lakewood Montessori (a champion for Becky's education) has made a bold challenge; raise $10,000 for Brenda to have a scholarship to allow her to attend high school for one year.

I already know one willing angel with $1000 in her wings. She's donating it knowing it will get the ball rolling and inspire others to give. This week I will be setting up a PayPal fund for donations to this scholarship. If you or someone you know is able to donate, please send payment via PayPal to ewilliams@foothillsschool.org . Would your employer donate? Do your parents like giving to great causes? Would your kids do a lemonade stand and have the proceeds go to this scholarship? I am going to look into running all the donations through a 501c3, so donors can receive a tax deduction. Please stay posted, but contact me immediately if you are able to donate. In Mary's words, "All we need is 20 people to donate $500! We can do that!" Whether you have $500 or $5, it will make a difference in Brenda's life.

Let's send Brenda to school!