Each month, the Crestwood/ Sunset Hills Kiwanis Club recognizes outstanding students in the community. In April, the honor went to one of our very own. Abby, a senior at Lindbergh High School, was nominated by her counselor, Jonathan Riethmeier. Jonathan has known Abby since her freshman year and recognizes the struggles she’s faced in life and throughout her high school career but Abby continued to persevere and put her best foot forward. Her drive and resilience has led her to greatly improve her grades over time and even enroll in honors courses, participate in Key Club, Reading Club and the College Bound Program all while working part time at a fast food restaurant. Abby always maintains a positive attitude and continues to inspire everyone she meets. She is very deserving of this honor.

A few days after receiving the award, Abby was thrilled to attend her high school prom, and thanks to a few generous donors, was able to have her hair and makeup done for the big event. 

Angels’ Arms foster mom Barb Bocklage said it best, “Throughout the years, it is watching these special kids persevere that touches me most. They are all amazing souls that bless our lives with their presence even if only for a short while!”

Do you remember your first car? Many of us have fond memories of getting behind the wheel of our very first car. Whether it was a family hand-me-down or a brand new vehicle complete with the new car smell, the freedom it represented was thrilling and for one of our youth, that “first car” dream became a reality last month.

Hannah, a high school senior, has been saving for a car for quite some time with the help of the Chafee Independent Living Program. By March, she finally saved up enough for a used car, more specifically, a 2000 Toyota Rav4 she’d been eyeing. Although the car was 17 years old, she didn’t care because it was all she could afford and at the end of the day, it would allow her to drive to and from school/work without having to ask for rides from her foster parents. Right before she was about to finalize the purchase of the Rav4, she learned of a unique opportunity thought Frank Leta Honda Charitable Foundation. They offered to match her savings, up to $3,000, which allowed her to buy a much newer and more reliable vehicle, a 2011 Toyota Camry. They also upgraded the car with four new tires and are covering all future oil changes and tire rotations. Hannah stopped by the Angels’ Arms office to show of her new car and share her exciting news. She expressed how grateful she is to everyone at Frank Leta for making her new car dream a reality.

Hannah is set to graduate high school in May and just recently obtained her nurse assistant certification through the Health Sciences Program at South Tech. She is excited to attend Southeast Missouri State University in the Fall where she plans to pursue a degree in nursing.

If you would like to support Hannah by helping her prepare for life in a dorm, away from her foster family, please contact Amber@angelsarms.org for more info. Also, gas gift cards and Target and Walmart gift cards would be greatly beneficial to Hannah and can be mailed to Angels’ Arms, 12128A Tesson Ferry Road, St. Louis, MO 63128.