It is expensive raising a baby, and the strain can feel almost impossible to bear for teen parents who are trying to balance diapers with their education
Now, a high school program offers young mothers and fathers the opportunity to complete their education while supporting their new families by providing crucial on-site childcare so they can attend classes at New Futures High School without dropping out.
The campus also maintains Dime Time, a unique on-site shop that has been quietly transforming lives for three decades.
Bargains and budgeting
Community donations help keep the store open, offering virtually everything a newborn or toddler could need, such as clothes, shoes, strollers, and toys.
However, the store operates under a unique rule: almost every item is priced at just 10 cents, instead of simply handing out handouts.
A dedicated teacher, who wanted to ensure students received the help they needed while learning valuable lessons about budgeting and personal responsibility, launched the concept 30 years ago.
“Dime Time” allows young parents to stretch limited budgets into essential wardrobes:
Catherine Reihing, a sophomore mother, said she regularly visits the shop with only $2. She leaves the store with five outfits for her baby.
Another sophomore, Saile Almanzar, confessed she had no baby supplies during her pregnancy. The store helped her meet her needs.
Young father Joshua Hillard continues her high school education while raising two infants. He described the combination of daily education and affordable baby supplies as a life-changing blessing.
A school principal who walks in their shoes
The concept to keep young parents in school comes straight from the head of the school, Principal Desiree Sprinher. She understands the pressures her students face better than most because she was once a teenage mother herself.
Sprinher shows her students that having a child does not mean giving up on their ambitions. Her mission is to get young parents back on track. She keeps them focused on earning their diplomas before transitioning into college, trade programs, or rewarding careers.
According to sophomore Demetrius Reese, the program provides the emotional strength needed to move forward in life, noting that the joy of raising a child ultimately outweighs every hardship along the way.
Relying on the generosity of the community, New Futures High School accepts donations of gently used baby gear and essentials.
