The Pierson Family: Proud to be Gators
August 7, 2012“They are so happy to be ‘Gators’,” said Pierson, a Baltimore City resident, “When we didn’t have a car, I had no way to take them to things like this.”
“Things like this” includes taking her 15-year-old daughter to swimming practice. Her daughter recently earned 2nd place at state regionals for swimming, in both the breast stroke and butterfly, and just became a certified lifeguard. It also includes driving outside the city to her mother’s grave in Laurel, and laying flowers on the site.
While owning a vehicle has had a huge impact on Pierson’s children, it’s also impacted what she has been able to accomplish. Pierson was working at the Baltimore City Housing Authority as a rehab apprentice when she was referred to Vehicles for Change. Trained in carpentry, painting and laying ceramic tile, Kelli was unable to advance in her career, because she didn’t have a car to take her to various job sites. Once she received a car, she was able to travel to different sites and hone her craft. She was soon promoted to a maintenance worker and assigned to repairs at Lakeview Gardens.
“This car really enhanced our lives” said Pierson, “Words cannot express what it means for our family.”
