In January 2018, Ashley found herself seven months pregnant, living in a homeless shelter with her two daughters. With $232 to her name and her husband awaiting sentencing for aggravated battery charges, her hopes and dreams for the family she always wanted were slipping away.
To support her children, Ashley got a job as a waitress. She walked along a busy highway at night to work and relied on family and her shelter roommate to care for her kids. During those walks, her darkest thoughts would creep in. “How will I provide for these soon-to-be 3 kids?”
She knew the waitressing was only a temporary fix and no way to provide any type of life for her kids. Working up until the day her third child was born, Ashley prayed for a miracle. “That first night was truly bittersweet, lying with him all alone in the hospital. Just him and me. He depended on me, and I wanted him to be able to count on me.” The fear and anxiety of not being able toprovide for her kids tainted what should have been a joyous evening.
While on maternity leave, a job training flyer for a tuition-free dog grooming program caught Ashley’s eye. After attending the seminar, she applied and was accepted to Pawsperity, worked very hard, and after several months, graduated from the program. At first, Ashley was nervous about grooming without her instructors, but she quickly realized they had prepared her.
Today, Ashley is the Lead Groomer at Woof’s Play and Stay in Lawrence, KS.
“I absolutely love what I do—I don’t even feel like I’m working. But most importantly, I am providing my kids with the life they deserve. They have things like dance, cheer, karate, and boxing lessons.”
In 2021, on her own, Ashley proudly purchased a home for her and her children. Simply put, Ashley says, “Pawsperity was the best decision I’ve made in my life. It was my light in the darkness.”
Because of you, Ashley’s family went from barely surviving to thriving. Her children don’t remember the time when their lives were filled with desperation.
Breaking the cycle of generational poverty means empowering parents with the tools and support they need to provide for their children. This is their reality, and you are part of their story.
