Pay It Forward: Renee Easterling of Prattville
PRATTVILLE, Ala. (WAKA) – When many young adults graduate high school, they look forward to what’s next. But for families navigating special needs, finding programs and independent housing after graduation can feel almost impossible. But Renee Easterling of Prattville is helping change that.
Easterling is founder of the non profit ‘Savanna’s Hope.’ It’s a thrift store which provides a sense of belonging for those with special needs.
“We started the thrift store three years ago, so the kids would have a place to come and feel like they were part of the community, whether they can stay five minutes or two hours,” says Easterling.
“Our main goal was to get land and build a little community of houses for our special needs to live in when their parents pass on and they don’t have anybody else,” says Amanda Brown, Easterling’s sister.
The non profit offers cooking classes, independent living classes, friends night out, and Bible studies for their community. Easterling says her inspiration behind the non profit — is her own daughter.
“My daughter has down syndrome and after she was born, I just wanted to make sure after when I went to be with Jesus, she was in good hands in a place where she was with peers and safe,” says Easterling.
And that is why Stewart Vance with the Vance Law Firm is surprising her!
Those close to Renee say she pours her blood, sweat and tears into the work she does and never asks for anything in return.
“All the things she does is just wonderful, and God-led. I believe that everything she does is God-led and has a purpose,” says Brown.
And Easterling plans to pay it forward even more with her $333.
“We have a little girl that we met about 6 months ago,” says Easterling. “She is going for intense physical therapy next month’s at Children’s (Hospital). And they were having issues getting in with the Ronald McDonald house. The hotel is going to be about three thousand dollars, so I’m going to take this $333 that I got and put it towards that. That is three nights of hotels for her family.”
Thank you, Renee, for all you do to Pay It Forward!
