This charity group, GROWS, helps immigrants learn English and function in our country. DP
By Victor Manuel Ramos | Sentinel Staff Writer
Leticia Rojas remembers the anguish she felt 13 years ago when her 1-year-old son came down with a high fever while her husband was at work.
She was living in Winter Garden and had to haul the sick child to a bus stop 20 minutes away, then take a bus to downtown Orlando and wait for another bus to get to Apopka -- the only place she knew of that had a clinic with a bilingual staff.
It was a trip that took several hours for what turned out to be strep throat and an ear infection.
Rojas, an immigrant from Mexico, could not speak English. As a result, she was stuck with limited options. She also couldn't drive and depended on her husband to get to most places beyond walking distance.
"I felt like I was disabled," said Rojas, 43, now an Apopka resident. "I couldn't speak to people."
She decided it was time to overcome her fear. She had to become a driver. She had to learn English.
She has accomplished all three goals, thanks in part to the GROWS Literacy Council, a nonprofit group in Apopka that helps immigrants learn literacy skills to improve their lives.
GROWS is among the charities that have benefited from the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund Holiday Campaign, which issues grants to organizations making a difference in their communities.
The programs include workshops on issues such as preventive health care, domestic violence, disciplining children and nutrition.
They've made a world of a difference for Rojas.
Be sure to read the rest of this story! This is only a small part of it.
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