Cheetara was new to Akron when two of her kids started school at Robinson CLC in 2021. She recalls, “I needed assistance with school supplies.” And when her kids came home with papers from school she learned about United Way’s Robinson Family Resource Center. United Way of Summit & Medina’s Family Resource Centers are safe, welcoming places inside of schools where parents and caregivers can get referrals to basic needs resources like school supplies. And that’s exactly what Cheetara did. After calling the number on the paper, Cheetara was told she could come get some school supplies from the FRC including backpacks. ShaQeria, the FRC coordinator at Robinson told her, “if you need any type of assistance at all, just call.”
Cheetara ended up losing her car soon after and ShaQeria started helping her schedule Lyft rides. She lost her job and ShaQeria helped her with rent and utility assistance. “She’s been really helpful and goes above and beyond to assist and make sure I have the stuff I need to take care of my kids”, said Cheetara.
Being new to Akron, Cheetara didn’t really know anybody or her way around. The FRC helped put her in a better position. “I would have been in a lot more of a panic mode because I wouldn’t have known where to go”, she recalls. But United Way helped put me on the right path.
After countless experiences being judged when asking for help and feeling like a failure because of it (which she most certainly is not), Cheetara finally feels supported by ShaQeria and empowered through the FRC. “Everybody needs help sometimes and it’s okay.”