$20 Challenge

This month, Young Adult Leadership Board member, Maria, nominated FAAZ Advisory Board member, Lori Ollom-Tighe, to take part in the FAAZ Day in the Life Challenge. Each challenge is related to something FAAZ Young Adult Leadership Board members have personally experienced while in foster care and can provide input on what needs improvement. For one week, Lori was allotted $20 to spend on “extra” items such as toiletries, coffee, gas, food and groceries.

Here is what Lori experienced:

“The day before I began my challenge I did some serious “adulting”: I filled my gas tank, paid my bills, bought groceries and postponed a lunch meeting with a friend. I packed snacks, skipped lunches and I declined invitations out. It was possible I would need the $20 for gas money by the end of the week so I was trying to not spend.

In the middle of the week my daughter needed to go to the doctor. Although we have health insurance, the appointment and prescription amounted to $90. I only had $55 in my health savings account, so I had to use my $20 plus $15 more. This was the most striking moment of the challenge; I thought of how remarkably difficult it would have been for a young parent in the foster care system with limited resources.

I was moved with gratitude and reminded of what it was like to be a young person; the kind of expenses I had and my priorities at the time. I was blessed to be raised in a two parent household that supported my desire to manage a part-time job at 16. Because my essential needs were covered, I was able to spend money earned on accessories, clothes, food and entertainment. My paychecks supported my social life.”

When asked what she will do with what she has learned, Lori said she plans to begin asking family, friends and colleagues to take the challenge and become a voice for youth in foster care.

“I would love to see people unfamiliar with how foster care works participate in this challenge and share their experience; I think it could raise community awareness in a powerful way.”

Take our Day in the Life Challenge and you too can advocate for more normalcy in foster care.