Nora was exhausted. She felt that she had nowhere to turn, and that no one understood her troubles. As a single mom, with two jobs, she was just barely making ends meet. She called the FAN advocate at her children’s school and told her story. The FAN advocate listened patiently and sympathized with her hardships. She asked Nora if she had food for her family. The answer was not enough. She asked if they had winter coats and boots. The answer was no.

The FAN advocate gave Nora some food resources to help supplement their food stamps. She then gave her coats, gloves, hats, socks, snow boots, and backpacks for her kids. Nora felt relief flood over her for the first time in months. Her children would not be cold or hungry this winter. Thanks to a helping hand from FAN, Nora felt able to provide for her kids again.

Aly was on her own, trying very hard to be an adult at a young age. She was determined to graduate high school and attend college. But the constant worry of where she’d get her next meal and how she would even get to school without any transport or warm clothes to walk in made every day a challenge. She visited her FAN advocate who quickly went to work. She taught Aly how to check into a local food bank. Then she showed Aly her closet of donated clothing. Aly was floored. She found a pair of warm boots and other winter clothes. Later, Aly approached her FAN advocate with a big smile and said she was going to have the best winter break ever, thanks to FAN. Aly now has her high school diploma, a steady job, and is saving money to attend college.

Nora was exhausted and felt she had nowhere to turn. As a single mom, with two jobs, she was barely making ends meet. She called the FAN advocate at her children’s school and told her story. The FAN advocate listened patiently and sympathized with her hardships. She asked Nora if she had food for her family. The answer was not enough. She asked if they had winter coats and boots. The answer was no. The FAN advocate gave Nora some food resources to help supplement their food stamps and gave her coats, gloves, hats, socks, snow boots, and backpacks for her kids. Nora felt relief flood over her for the first time in months. Her children would not be cold or hungry this winter. Thanks to a helping hand from FAN, Nora felt able to provide for her kids again.

William suffered far too much trauma for an 8-year old. Neglected and starved by an absentee single mother, the courts eventually granted custody to his grandparents. Living on a fixed income, the grandparents worried about how they would provide for William. When they turned to William’s FAN advocate, their worries eased. The advocate helped them obtain health insurance, clothing, school supplies, food assistance, and a bed.

Yet William, by nature a spunky, resilient and kind little boy, had serious trust issues. With ongoing encouragement by his grandparents, teachers, and his FAN advocate, William slowly started to make friends. To boost William’s confidence and help him better focus, his FAN advocate got him a scholarship for piano lessons. His piano instructor says William is a very fast learner and his first recital was a success.

Aly was on her own, trying very hard to be an adult at a young age. She was determined to graduate high school and attend college. But the constant worry of where she’d get her next meal and how she would even get to school without any transport or warm clothes to walk in made every day a challenge. She visited her FAN advocate who quickly went to work. She taught Aly how to check into a local food bank. Then she showed Aly her closet of donated clothing. Aly was floored. She found a pair of warm boots and other winter clothes. Later, Aly approached her FAN advocate with a big smile and said she was going to have the best winter break ever, thanks to FAN. Aly now has her high school diploma, a steady job, and is saving money to attend college.