SPOKANE, Wash. — Over the past two decades the Vanessa Behan Pumpkin Ball has raised more than $3 million for the nonprofit.
Their mission is to support families in whatever ways they need.
Meet one of those families and see how the nonprofit is helping them thrive.
Sierra, a Navy veteran and single mom of two boys, faced overwhelming challenges, including job loss and homelessness.
“A lot of life stressors, not having a place to live, not having a job, my car broke, all the things,” said Sierra. “You don’t have time to sit down and like think about your own feelings. You don’t have time to process life. You have to get up and make dinner and give kids baths.”
After a family member recommended Vanessa Behan, she gathered the courage to seek help, expressing her desperation during her first call.
“I said, I don’t know how this works, but I need help, and I just cried,” said Sierra.
Amy Vega, Executive Director of Vanessa Behan, underscores their mission to support families like Sierra’s by reducing stress and providing resources. The organization focuses on early childhood support to foster strong, healthy relationships.
“The amount of homelessness that we’re dealing with, the amount of substance misuse that’s happening out there, is directly related to the impact that that child had in their early years. They didn’t get that support. They didn’t get that care. They didn’t get that confidence,” said Vega.
Vanessa Behan currently serves over 7,000 children annually but can support twice that number with additional funding.
“To double our budget is our goal as quickly as we can because we know we have to stop asking our kids to wait. So often, we’re saying when we get enough funding when we have a space open, we’ll get your child in. And, in that time, we’re losing critical opportunities with those children and with these parents,” said Vega
Sierra’s experience at Vanessa Behan has been transformative, allowing her the necessary time to focus on her studies in business and accounting while knowing her sons are well cared for.
Reflecting on her decision to reach out for help, she feels grateful for the support, which has significantly improved her family’s situation.
The Pumpkin Ball is Saturday, October 26, 5:30 p.m. – 11 p.m. at the Davenport Grand Hotel.
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