Meet Kelly

About two years ago, after giving birth to her daughter, Kelly was referred to The Villages’ Healthy Families program by WIC, the USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.

Kelly is a loving mother of two: Allya, a healthy and thriving 2-year-old and Audrey, a 12-year-old, preteen, Swiftie. Kelly has a learning disability due to a car accident she experienced as a child. When Kelly first met with her Healthy Families case worker, she shared that she wanted to obtain her high school diploma but was too anxious to sign-up for the program. After a lot of encouragement and support from her family, friends, and her case worker, she gained the courage and confidence to enroll in the high school diploma program through the Excel Center. Over the past year, Kelly has stayed on track, using the assistance of tutors offered through the program, achieving a GPA of 3.5 with a 90% attendance rate.

Healthy Families has supported Kelly along the way, including assistance with transportation, obtaining a bus pass so Kelly could get to and from school. Recently, Kelly’s daughter was diagnosed with Lupus. Even with navigating the new diagnosis, Kelly is determined to achieve her goal. She is on track to graduate in April of 2024. After that Kelly plans to continue her education to become a CNA. Kelly’s case worker has no doubt she will. Kelly’s story is just one example of how Healthy Families case workers focus on the entire family and help them achieve their goals to thrive and succeed.