Sarah's Story

Sarah’s+ children are thriving in and out of the classroom – thanks to you.

When Sarah fled her violent ex-husband back in 2012, she was left living in her car while trying to care for two young children.

“When I got my tooth knocked out, I had no choice but to leave,” Sarah remembers. “My ex had taken all my money, which made it hard to feed my kids.”

Sarah struggled for two long years to make ends meet and provide a safe home for her children before meeting local Vinnies volunteer, Cheryl. With support from Vinnies’ Children’s Education Fund – and wonderful people like 4 MAKING A DIFFERENCE AUTUMN 2023 5 Did you know that just $81 could purchase stationery and books that students need to thrive at school, so parents are not forced to make a choice between educating their children or feeding them? you – Cheryl has been able to help Sarah put life back together for her family and give her kids the best start at school.

“Cheryl has been amazing,” Sarah says. “Early on she helped me a lot with food parcels and gift cards to buy groceries.”

“She also helped me get the support I needed to pay for the kids’ education. That meant the world to me.”

Life continues to be a challenge for Sarah. These days she juggles the demands of caring full time for her mother while raising three children on her own. Rising cost-of-living pressures have made the balancing act even more difficult.

“It’s hard every year, but especially this year,” Sarah says, “I haven’t got two cents to rub together. If I can’t even afford my groceries, how am I supposed to buy uniforms and everything else the kids need for school.”

Support through our Children’s Education Fund is vital to helping Sarah give her children the opportunity to achieve their amazing potential.

“I’m so proud of my kids. They’re doing so well. My eldest Talia is doing extension programs for gifted and intelligent students. My middle child Maddie is representing her college at chess. And my youngest Daniel is doing really well with his maths, music and reading.

“Without the help we get through the Fund, they wouldn’t be getting those opportunities.”

Thank you for helping to give promising young people the chance to shine bright – and preventing them from falling into a cycle of poverty and homelessness.