Homeless Student Goes to College
Donation protected
Against all odds, Ashley Aquino proudly walked across the stage and received her high school diploma just a few weeks ago. Ashley's mother, Ramona, did her best to encourage Ashley in elementary school when she came home day after day in tears, tired of being bullied. Ramona shared with her daugher that it was okay to be different. That same year Ramona was told that Ashley was going deaf, might be autistic, and needed to be held back a year. Determined to give her daughter the best chance at succeeding in life, Ramona set out on a mission. She put her in every tutoring, mentoring, and hearing therapy class that she could possibly find. She said that sometimes they would be at appointments until 10 o'clock at night. Ramona was so proud when Ashley began to excel academically as she entered junior high and high school.
Unfortunately for Ashley and her family, the hardest trials began when they no longer could afford to live in Buena Park. Ramona, her husband, and their five kids moved to an apartment in Anaheim. Ramona said she felt horrible having to remove the kids from the home they grew up in. The second most stable thing in her kids’ lives were their schools, so she gave them the option to stay at their current schools if they wanted to. Ashley and her siblings walked 1 1/2 hours each way from Anaheim to Buena Park to attend school every single day.
Last year Ashley’s family, facing financial troubles, had to leave their apartment in Anaheim and became desperate to find another living situation that they could afford. They were homeless for a couple months. Audrey, Ashley's 15-year-old sister, said, "It was hard worrying if we were going to be on the street each night." Ramona and her husband would go to every apartment complex they knew each night after he got off work and see if they had any apartments, with fingers crossed that they could afford it. The kids would wait at the West Anaheim Youth Center and do their homework until their parents showed up with their location for the night. Most nights Ramona called a friend and asked if they could sleep over. They were sure to arrive late, around 10 or 11, and be out of the house before the friend woke up so as not to take advantage of their kindness to her family.
Giving Children Hope was alerted to Ashley’s family's situation and enrolled them in our food program, We've Got Your Back (WGYB). Ramona said that before her kids were in WGYB, she cried every day from the guilt of sending her kids to school hungry. She is so grateful that Giving Children Hope provided what was most needed for her family during that time and continues to do so.
When the day finally came that they found a place to live, the kids were overjoyed that it was in their hometown of Buena Park. Audrey explained that it felt like a huge advantage to be able to get home so quickly and start working on her homework. The family is now living in a two- bedroom apartment with another family. The five kids are in one bedroom and Ramona and her husband sleep on the floor in the living room. Nearly everything they own has been donated or given to them.
After sharing her story, Ramona pulled out her phone and displayed a picture of Ashley graduating. With tears in her eyes she said her daughter not only graduated from high school, but graduated with honors, and is going to college. She continued to show pictures of her kids with the awards they received at the end of this school year. Every one of her kids finished the year on honor roll. Ramona's pride in her children was overwhelming as she explained, "Being poor or living through difficult situations aren't excuses to not doing well in school." She put in her half of the work to provide every opportunity for her children to succeed and the rest was up to them. Ramona shared, "We aren't perfect, but if we are all working together as a family that's all that matters." God will provide the rest.
Giving Children Hope has given food, furniture, and many other home furnishings to the family throughout the years but we need your help making a dream come true for 17-year-old Ashley. She and her mother are looking for part time jobs to pay for tuition and books for college. Ashley is attending Cal State Fullerton in the fall with the hopes of studying Criminal Justice. From bullying, hearing loss, and homelessness this determined young woman has overcome so much. Stand with us as we watch a young girl break the cycle of poverty.
For more information on Giving Children Hope click here.
Unfortunately for Ashley and her family, the hardest trials began when they no longer could afford to live in Buena Park. Ramona, her husband, and their five kids moved to an apartment in Anaheim. Ramona said she felt horrible having to remove the kids from the home they grew up in. The second most stable thing in her kids’ lives were their schools, so she gave them the option to stay at their current schools if they wanted to. Ashley and her siblings walked 1 1/2 hours each way from Anaheim to Buena Park to attend school every single day.
Last year Ashley’s family, facing financial troubles, had to leave their apartment in Anaheim and became desperate to find another living situation that they could afford. They were homeless for a couple months. Audrey, Ashley's 15-year-old sister, said, "It was hard worrying if we were going to be on the street each night." Ramona and her husband would go to every apartment complex they knew each night after he got off work and see if they had any apartments, with fingers crossed that they could afford it. The kids would wait at the West Anaheim Youth Center and do their homework until their parents showed up with their location for the night. Most nights Ramona called a friend and asked if they could sleep over. They were sure to arrive late, around 10 or 11, and be out of the house before the friend woke up so as not to take advantage of their kindness to her family.
Giving Children Hope was alerted to Ashley’s family's situation and enrolled them in our food program, We've Got Your Back (WGYB). Ramona said that before her kids were in WGYB, she cried every day from the guilt of sending her kids to school hungry. She is so grateful that Giving Children Hope provided what was most needed for her family during that time and continues to do so.
When the day finally came that they found a place to live, the kids were overjoyed that it was in their hometown of Buena Park. Audrey explained that it felt like a huge advantage to be able to get home so quickly and start working on her homework. The family is now living in a two- bedroom apartment with another family. The five kids are in one bedroom and Ramona and her husband sleep on the floor in the living room. Nearly everything they own has been donated or given to them.
After sharing her story, Ramona pulled out her phone and displayed a picture of Ashley graduating. With tears in her eyes she said her daughter not only graduated from high school, but graduated with honors, and is going to college. She continued to show pictures of her kids with the awards they received at the end of this school year. Every one of her kids finished the year on honor roll. Ramona's pride in her children was overwhelming as she explained, "Being poor or living through difficult situations aren't excuses to not doing well in school." She put in her half of the work to provide every opportunity for her children to succeed and the rest was up to them. Ramona shared, "We aren't perfect, but if we are all working together as a family that's all that matters." God will provide the rest.
Giving Children Hope has given food, furniture, and many other home furnishings to the family throughout the years but we need your help making a dream come true for 17-year-old Ashley. She and her mother are looking for part time jobs to pay for tuition and books for college. Ashley is attending Cal State Fullerton in the fall with the hopes of studying Criminal Justice. From bullying, hearing loss, and homelessness this determined young woman has overcome so much. Stand with us as we watch a young girl break the cycle of poverty.
For more information on Giving Children Hope click here.
Organizer
Carly Visbal
Organizer
Orange, CA
