BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – This week on Mom to Mom, Local 10′s Nicole Perez spent time with an organization dedicated to helping “grandfamilies,” where grandparents have taken on the role of being caregivers for their grandchildren.
The Pantry of Broward is ensuring these children have a stable environment, amid often heartbreaking circumstances.
Ms. Paula Scott has full custody of her five grandchildren after their mother went to prison.
“Their mother got in trouble. They stay down the street. Her neighbor and my son came and told me they were take the kids and I told them I wanted my grandkids. I’m not separating them. They’ve been in the system already and I want them. She gave them to me that day and I’ve had them ever since,” said Scott.
Scott’s grandchildren are 16, 15, 13, 12 and 9 years old.
“They make me feel like the best grandma in the world. You know. We were at dinner, grandma that was so good, that made me feel so good inside that I could please them and just do things for them,” said Scott.
Being the sole provider for five children is no easy task and it times, Scott told Nicole she did not know how she was going to do it until she found the Pantry of Broward.
The organization has been with Scott every step of the way, helping her with whatever she needed for her grandchildren. CEO Maureen Luna said the group provides seniors who live under the poverty level with all kinds of services they might need.
“This is a woman in her own right was struggling before she even had her grandchildren. She had the opportunity to do the right thing by her own child by taking care of her grandchildren. She said yes, she never hesitated or questioned it. said Luna. “Our grandparents are still able to come here throughout the year, sometimes for help navigating school or court system. We are here to give them guidance. We have case managers who have relationships throughout community for them to lean on to get them those services.”
Scott said she has taken advantage of each and every service.
“I come in here with a smile on my face. I’m grateful for whatever they give me. I’m grateful for vegetables, meat, prayer whatever. It’s a lot of mouths I have to feed,” said Scott.
Ms. Scott had a paper in her hand during her talk with Nicole. She said wanted to make sure she did not leave anything out about what the pantry has done for her and her family.
“They help me with food, back to school supplies, Thanksgiving, Christmas toys, gift cards and more. Thank you, food pantry, thank you. They treat me like family. I don’t want to cry but, when I first walked in the door, when you walk into places, she welcomes me. I was wondering how I’m going to feed my kids, and she said don’t worry Ms. Scott we got you,” said Scott.
Scott has a message for any other grandparent out there who needs some help.
“I would like to say that you can do it. With programs like this that’s out there, you can do it with the help of them,’ said Scott.
The pantry serves about 75 grandparents per year and about 125 grandchildren from infants to 18-year-olds.
They have an open-door policy and there’s no waiting list for grandparents who need help.
For more information about the pantry and/or how you can donate, click on this link.
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