New Program Helps Area Youth Leaving System

Original Article Via Akron Beacon Journal

A desire to help people in need led Maria Paparella to reach out to teenagers in need.

Six years later, her efforts have expanded to Ashtabula County where the first delivery of furniture to a resident was made on Nov. 2, said Paparella who is director of operations for the non-profit Chair-ity.

“I started the organization in 2014 when I was a sophomore in high school,” Paparella said.

While her family was looking into adopting, but decided the timing would not work, she said she still wanted to do something to help teenagers.

After talking with Summit County Children Services, she decided to do something.

“The biggest need was furniture for those aging out of foster care,” she said.

As the group grew through her high school and college years, Paparella decided to make it a full-time non-profit. She said the agency has helped teenagers in Medina, Summit, Cuyahoga and now Ashtabula counties to name a few.

“My organization works directly with their social workers to determine their needs as they age out to help them furnish their apartments and get household goods in order to make this transition just a little easier and give them one less thing to worry about,” she said.

The recipient of the Nov. 2 donation was involved in the Bridges to Success Program that strives to help those aging out of the foster care system, said Paparella and Dawn Lilja, who runs the Independent Living Program for Ashtabula County Children Services.