Mission accepted! This month’s Day in the Life challenge is particularly special, as one of our very own advocates, Meghan Arrigo, was nominated to take part in raising greater awareness to the everyday experiences of Arizona youth in foster care. Young Adult Board Member, Desaray Klimenko, challenged Meghan to do all her grocery shopping for the week using the bus as her primary mode of transportation. This is a challenge often experienced by many youth in foster care.

Eating healthy is an important part of my family’s lifestyle. Once a week, we pull out our cookbooks and methodically plan our menu and grocery list for the week. We also hit at least two to three stores a trip so we can get the best sale prices. I knew grocery shopping for the week, on the bus, was not going to be easy, so I enlisted the support of my husband. We coordinated our schedules and choose a Sunday afternoon to ensure we had enough time. We planned our meals accordingly, making sure to only buy exactly what we needed. After researching where to purchase bus tickets and the bus routes, we decided to visit only one grocery store, even if this meant missing out on sale items.

As we set out to walk through our neighborhood to the nearest bus stop, it started to rain. Once we boarded and made it to the store, we worked together as quickly as possible hoping to catch the next hourly bus. Once we finished shopping, we headed out on foot towards the nearest bus stop. Just as we approached the intersection to cross the street, we saw the bus parked loading passengers.  We attempted to run, grocery bags in hand, but we couldn’t cross in time and the bus left without us. While waiting the 30 minutes until the next bus arrived, it started to rain, so we sought shelter under a car wash awning. It took us 2.5 hours to complete our shopping trip; double what it typically takes us in our car and going to multiple stores. I ended up riding my bike to another store midweek to purchase some additional items.

My Day In The Life Challenge underscored how essential a driver’s license and vehicle are in a state like Arizona, and the privileges I have with both. Not just because having a car makes grocery shopping easier, it makes everything easier. It allows me flexibility in employment, assurance I can attend doctors’ appointments and important meetings, connections with friends and family, additional safety in my commute, and a whole host of other advantages and conveniences. Having to ride a bike or rely on the bus as my only form of transportation means something entirely different when it is a choice vs. out of necessity. For young people in foster care, it is critical they have this choice. Prior to leaving care, all young adults 16 and older should be provided driver’s training courses and the opportunity to secure a driving permit or license. It is a critical step in the ability to be self-sufficient. We can’t hold young people to expectations of independence if we don’t provide them the tools and support to do so.”

Now it’s your turn to take the challenge and raise awareness of what “living foster care” is like. Do you accept this mission?