Gaylee
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Please meet Gaylee…
Gaylee is a freshman English major at ASU, and lives in the dorm. She is brilliant, witty, eloquent, matter-of-fact, soft-spoken, and attending ASU on a full scholarship. Gaylee is homeless.
I first was introduced to Gaylee in the Fall of 2016 through our son Hayden. Gaylee and Hayden were both seniors and in the same ASU concurrent classes at Valley View. Through those classes, Hayden and his friends got to know Gaylee and became aware of her home life. They learned she may have to drop the concurrent classes because of she hadn’t made enough money to pay for them. Hayden and his friends admired Gaylee and wanted her to succeed in her future, and jumped in to help! Their kind and generous hearts started a go-fund-me account for Gaylee. It was a huge success! She was able to pay for her classes, AND buy a car for $1,000. I’ll tell you about her cool car later.
This fall my daughter and I happened into Gaylee working at Target! I’d never met Gaylee in person, but recognized her from pictures Hayden showed me. We hugged and exchanged phone numbers. I told Gaylee if she ever needed anything to please let me know and I would try to help. 2 weeks ago, I got a call.
Last year, Gaylee was able to leave her parents home by way of her car, she named Stitch. She lived in a few different locations that didn’t work out, lived in her car, and finally found a shed to live in until classes started at ASU and she could move into the dorm. Over Christmas break, she had no place to go, which is why she called me. She didn’t know what to do, and couldn’t figure out any options. She said she would gladly go back to the shed, but it was no longer available to her, and she was afraid when sleeping in her car. The cost to stay in the dorm over Christmas is $340.00. She could have applied that to her scholarship account, but that account is precious to her. A friend reminded me the cafeteria would be closed, and asked if she would have enough food over break, so I asked Gaylee if I could take her grocery shopping? She said she didn’t have a microwave or refrig in her dorm. My heart sank. Such basic needs. My mind flashed to my own children, and pictures I’ve seen posted of the cutest dorm rooms, and the fun shopping trips getting rooms for college.
Through a few kind and generous dear friends: Gaylee’s room for Christmas break is paid. She has a microwave. She has a dorm fridge. “Stitch” has a new battery. She has grocery money - we’ve been to Sam’s and stocked her room with college kid food essentials - yep, including Raman noodles!We talked with the head of resident’s life, and there is a 12 month dorm available to her which she can move into this summer through applications and the requirement of taking 1 summer school course. She can live there the remainder of her college days. It is more expensive, but a great option for Gaylee.
We’re starting another go-fund-me for Gaylee. She is working as many hours as possible at Target, and is so close to really being on her way! There are still some basic needs – Spring Break dorm fees, 12 month dorm additional fees, books, Stitch needs $1,200 in work. I’m hopeful you might want to help too. I know we all feel stressed and stretched during our Christmas season of giving. But I believe Gaylee is worth investing our resources, prayers and hearts!
More about Gaylee…
Stitch – she named her car stitch from Lilo and Stitch. Stitch is of German origin, and means to join together. Stitch has gotten her away from bad situations. Stitch is a faded blue German 1999 Audi, and somewhat of a collector’s vehicle. She has taken it to a repair shop specializing in foreign auto repair, and has a list prioritized of repairs needed.
Semi-colon symbol - ; This symbol ; is meaningful to Gaylee. It indicates a previous thought in a sentence, but the sentence is not over. She sees that as symbolic of her life, she has a story of her past; now there are new thoughts, plans, with more life to come.
Go-fund-me account – I asked Gaylee’s permission to start a go-fund-me account for her. She was afraid it may be like a movie sequel. The first one being wildly successful, and the subsequent ones may seem tedious and a flop. I’m thinking “Rocky”! And, we may need to help again another day, or maybe not! I truly believe she will be on her way!
Gaylee shared a few bits and pieces of her past, and with respect for her privacy won’t share here. We will have to wait for her book that she is writing about her life!
Gaylee is a freshman English major at ASU, and lives in the dorm. She is brilliant, witty, eloquent, matter-of-fact, soft-spoken, and attending ASU on a full scholarship. Gaylee is homeless.
I first was introduced to Gaylee in the Fall of 2016 through our son Hayden. Gaylee and Hayden were both seniors and in the same ASU concurrent classes at Valley View. Through those classes, Hayden and his friends got to know Gaylee and became aware of her home life. They learned she may have to drop the concurrent classes because of she hadn’t made enough money to pay for them. Hayden and his friends admired Gaylee and wanted her to succeed in her future, and jumped in to help! Their kind and generous hearts started a go-fund-me account for Gaylee. It was a huge success! She was able to pay for her classes, AND buy a car for $1,000. I’ll tell you about her cool car later.
This fall my daughter and I happened into Gaylee working at Target! I’d never met Gaylee in person, but recognized her from pictures Hayden showed me. We hugged and exchanged phone numbers. I told Gaylee if she ever needed anything to please let me know and I would try to help. 2 weeks ago, I got a call.
Last year, Gaylee was able to leave her parents home by way of her car, she named Stitch. She lived in a few different locations that didn’t work out, lived in her car, and finally found a shed to live in until classes started at ASU and she could move into the dorm. Over Christmas break, she had no place to go, which is why she called me. She didn’t know what to do, and couldn’t figure out any options. She said she would gladly go back to the shed, but it was no longer available to her, and she was afraid when sleeping in her car. The cost to stay in the dorm over Christmas is $340.00. She could have applied that to her scholarship account, but that account is precious to her. A friend reminded me the cafeteria would be closed, and asked if she would have enough food over break, so I asked Gaylee if I could take her grocery shopping? She said she didn’t have a microwave or refrig in her dorm. My heart sank. Such basic needs. My mind flashed to my own children, and pictures I’ve seen posted of the cutest dorm rooms, and the fun shopping trips getting rooms for college.
Through a few kind and generous dear friends: Gaylee’s room for Christmas break is paid. She has a microwave. She has a dorm fridge. “Stitch” has a new battery. She has grocery money - we’ve been to Sam’s and stocked her room with college kid food essentials - yep, including Raman noodles!We talked with the head of resident’s life, and there is a 12 month dorm available to her which she can move into this summer through applications and the requirement of taking 1 summer school course. She can live there the remainder of her college days. It is more expensive, but a great option for Gaylee.
We’re starting another go-fund-me for Gaylee. She is working as many hours as possible at Target, and is so close to really being on her way! There are still some basic needs – Spring Break dorm fees, 12 month dorm additional fees, books, Stitch needs $1,200 in work. I’m hopeful you might want to help too. I know we all feel stressed and stretched during our Christmas season of giving. But I believe Gaylee is worth investing our resources, prayers and hearts!
More about Gaylee…
Stitch – she named her car stitch from Lilo and Stitch. Stitch is of German origin, and means to join together. Stitch has gotten her away from bad situations. Stitch is a faded blue German 1999 Audi, and somewhat of a collector’s vehicle. She has taken it to a repair shop specializing in foreign auto repair, and has a list prioritized of repairs needed.
Semi-colon symbol - ; This symbol ; is meaningful to Gaylee. It indicates a previous thought in a sentence, but the sentence is not over. She sees that as symbolic of her life, she has a story of her past; now there are new thoughts, plans, with more life to come.
Go-fund-me account – I asked Gaylee’s permission to start a go-fund-me account for her. She was afraid it may be like a movie sequel. The first one being wildly successful, and the subsequent ones may seem tedious and a flop. I’m thinking “Rocky”! And, we may need to help again another day, or maybe not! I truly believe she will be on her way!
Gaylee shared a few bits and pieces of her past, and with respect for her privacy won’t share here. We will have to wait for her book that she is writing about her life!
Organizer
Angela Kathleen Staton
Organizer
Jonesboro, AR
