Jada loves books, but she couldn’t see the words clearly on the page. Reading was a struggle.

A third-grader at Winnona Park Elementary, Jada needed a new pair of glasses. Her original glasses broke, and she was told she had to wait a year to get another pair covered by Medicaid.

Her teacher, Sabrina Manns (above), knew Jada’s progress would stall if she waited too long.

So the Decatur Education Foundation bought her a new pair of glasses. Jada is so proud of them. “Me and my mom picked them out,” she says of the stylish frames.

And beyond looking great, Jada began performing better. Her confidence has soared.

“Certainly, the glasses have made a big difference,” Manns says. “Jada’s reading level has improved, which we attribute to many things, including the fact that she can finally see.”

Social worker Karen Koonce reached out to the Decatur Education Foundation on Jada’s behalf. The Foundation’s Mary Leila Honiker Student Assistance Fund, which provides emergency assistance for students and families in need, proved to be the answer.

Says Koonce: “The fund has provided a light for parents who don’t know where else to turn.”