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Teen Girl Living in Tent Opens Eyes and Hearts
Why, Despite Best Efforts, Did Do-Gooders Do Harm?
Do-gooders came out of the woodwork in the Akron, OH, area recently when a local TV station aired a series of stories about a teen girl living in the woods trying to graduate from high school. Neeha Curtis, news anchor on Cleveland’s 19 News, shielded the girl’s identity and exhibited uncommon emotion about this incident which could elicit a ho-hum from a less compassionate reporter. This story generated an outpouring of assistance, over $10,000 in donations and housing.
I reached out to this reporter, first to commend her on her humanity, then to offer an ear if she needed to talk over this unfolding saga. I’m not a mental health professional, but I’ve encountered similarly tragic stories in my 15 years on the road chronicling family and youth homelessness under my HEAR US Inc. nonprofit. I know the gut-punch feeling as these stories swirl in my head.
We did talk, and it was helpful. Neeha didn’t stop when the going got tough. She has done follow-up stories, but has learned of dismazing turns from some of the “helpers.” She doesn’t want to stop now. She shared with me the latest aspects that could make the girl look “bad” to viewers, alleged problems that occurred when a local woman “gave” the teen a place to live and things went…
