A ROAD TO HER DREAMS: HOW JESSICA IS BUILDING A BRIGHTER FUTURE
For Jessica, reliable transportation means more than getting from one place to another. It means having the opportunity to pursue her education, maintain employment, support her family, and work toward a future she has always dreamed of.
Jessica knows what it takes to work hard. After saving money from her paychecks, she purchased her first vehicle, hoping it would provide the independence she needed to move forward. Unfortunately, the car turned out to be unreliable, and she lost the money she had worked so hard to save. Without dependable transportation, getting to work became a daily challenge, adding financial pressure to an already difficult situation.
At times, Jessica found herself struggling to cover even basic necessities. Still, she remained grateful for the people around her who continued to support her and determined to keep working toward a better future.
One of Jessica’s biggest goals is to become the first person in her family to graduate from high school and college. With plans to study at Hagerstown Community College and pursue a career as an X-ray technician, she is taking important steps toward building a stable future for herself and her family. But without reliable transportation, she worried that getting to class, keeping her job, and continuing her education would become increasingly difficult.
Through United Way of Frederick County’s Ride United Network (RUN) program, Jessica received transportation assistance to get to work, saving $521.08 in transportation costs. This support helped ease some of the financial burden while she worked toward a more permanent solution.
Then, through the Pathway to Transportation program in partnership with Second Chances Garage, Jessica received a vehicle of her own.
Reliable transportation removes a significant barrier standing between Jessica and her goals. It gives her greater freedom to get to work, pursue her education, and continue building the future she envisions for her family.
United Way of Frederick County’s Ride United Network and Pathway to Transportation programs work together to help individuals overcome transportation barriers. While RUN provides rides to help people reach essential destinations like work, Pathway to Transportation helps participants take a longer-term step toward independence and financial stability.
Jessica’s journey is a reminder that sometimes, the right support at the right time can help someone keep moving toward a dream that might otherwise feel out of reach.
With a reliable vehicle and a determination to succeed, Jessica can continue working toward her education, her career, and her goal of becoming the first in her family to graduate from college.
Her journey is just beginning, and we’re proud to be part of the road ahead.
