Urgent Support for a YouthGROW Family

Gastien and Allah are two brothers who have been deeply involved in our YouthGROW program, Gastien since 2022 and Allah since 2023. Both currently hold leadership roles in YouthGROW and are exceptional leaders within our community. They are true generators of warmth and light in our program.

The brothers were born in Cameroon and moved to the United States with their mother and two sisters at young ages. Their mother is disabled, and they are the youngest of four siblings.

In recent months, the family has gone through some major transitions. Their oldest sibling married and moved out of the household, and their other older sibling, who is only 19, was laid off from her job. Gastien and Allah have both been contributing wages earned through YouthGROW but our program is only able to offer limited hours after school during the academic year. Due to their mother’s physical limitations, she is unable to work, leaving the remaining children in the home to shoulder the full financial burden.

The family is currently two months behind on rent and utilities, and extremely limited resources for other essential costs, such as food. Gastien has made the incredibly difficult decision to begin working overnight factory shifts to help support his family and prevent housing loss. He is a high school senior, and this decision will undoubtedly impact his senior year. While we are deeply concerned for his academics and social connections, we also understand the urgency of survival. This is a call to action.

We have been working closely with other local organizations including ACE, Worcester Public Schools/South High, Worcester Community Action Council, and the Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester to provide support and have been able to secure some support for the family and are currently working to secure more resources. However, the need is greater than we have been able to meet thus far. In this season of giving, we are reaching out to the broader community to help this family stabilize their housing and give Gastien breathing room to consider other work opportunities that will allow him to finish his senior year.

Our fundraising goal is $6,700, which will cover two months of back rent, January’s rent, and overdue utility costs.

These brothers are an essential part of our YouthGROW family and our wider community. They are role models to their peers and have built deep, meaningful bonds with staff and fellow youth. They are truly wonderful students, always willing to help, eager to learn, and bringing joy and camaraderie wherever they go. We hope you will find it in your heart to help uplift these brothers and their family.

-Grace & Vanessa