Page 10 - My FlipBook

Lance, Candace, and several others murmur in agree-
ment. Jasmine’s eyes turn down. “Unfortunately, that ship
has sailed. Hope House owed the city money for several
months of back taxes. They’ve been evicted. What we need
to focus our efforts on now are the people who are affected.
We need to make sure they get the resources that they need.”
My thoughts turn to my stepmother, Tiffany, and how
she put up with my dad beating her because she thought
he loved her. How she was afraid to leave him because she
didn’t have a job or anywhere to take Sarah.
I sit up straighter. “You said the city council has denied
increasing the funding for all the shelters, right?”
Jasmine nods at me.
“Well, then we should try to do whatever we can to keep
other places open.”
I take a breath as I realize all eyes are on me. I just stated

something obvious, but I don't have a solution. My palms
start to sweat, but Lana gives me an encouraging smile.
I think quickly. “Could we do a fundraiser or something?
I mean, they need the money already if they’re asking city
council for more. They probably need it now more than ever,
if any of the women and children who used to go to Hope
House are seeking help from the other shelters. There were
only two battered women’s shelters in town, and now it’s
just the one, the Women’s and Children’s Domestic Violence
Shelter. That makes sense, right?”
I pause, feeling my face redden. I’m not used to speaking
up in class, much less in meetings like this. And I’m new to
the club, so who am I to try to come up with ideas?

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