“WITHOUT THE [SUPPORT OF] UNITED WAY, I DON’T THINK S.N.A.P. WOULD BE AS GREAT AS THEY ARE.”
Childcare Woes & Wariness
I became a single mother and I needed someone to watch my kids, especially my son, who was three years old at the time. Only their dad and occasionally their grandmother had watched them before, so I was very nervous about other people watching them. But I needed childcare and I needed it quickly, so I asked around. Another family member recommended S.N.A.P., Inc. Preschool and Childcare, and she told me that my son could start there immediately.
A Wonderful Education
S.N.A.P. quickly put me at ease. Before my son started there he knew some basic things like colors and shapes. Within his first year they taught him to spell his name, my name, his dad’s name and his brothers’ and sisters’ names. And the teaching hasn’t stopped since then. Beyond what he’s learned in the classroom, he’s also learned how to be with other kids and get along with adults. That was huge to me because before he came to S.N.A.P. he didn’t talk a lot, to the point that I was concerned. Thanks to S.N.A.P. he’s social, outgoing and confident – he winks at the lunch ladies and reads to the younger kids.
The staff at S.N.A.P. also helped me figure out that my son had a health issue. He was zoning out pretty regularly. I thought he was just ignoring me. One of the teachers pointed out that he could be having seizures and that I should get him checked. Sure enough, he was diagnosed with epilepsy. He’s now on a prescription, which manages his seizures, and his teachers have an action plan in place if one occurs.
S.N.A.P. did so much for me and my son that I started volunteering there. From volunteering, I transitioned to working part-time (in addition to my other job). Plus, I joined the board. This gives me the chance to spend time with my kids AND help a great educational center.
My name is Autumn, and now I help change the story.
Help From
With the generous help of S.N.A.P., Autumn was able to change the story.
Health
We are making sure people have access to physical and mental health care, and that babies are born healthy. We work with health care providers to keep costs low and make sure services are available for those with little or no health insurance.
Income
We’re helping families become – and stay – self-sufficient by investing in programs that help them stay in their homes, through rental assistance, budgeting and financial counseling. We also help people become financially stable by supporting job training and retention programs, and through the Tax Counseling Initiative and the Emergency Food and Shelter program.