SUNBURY — After moving to the Valley to clean up her life, a 44-year-old woman is thankful for a second chance.
She hopes to be able to provide some gifts to her children and grandchildren this holiday while she raises them and continues her drug treatment programs.
Rhonda Stansbury moved to Sunbury from Philadelphia two years ago after overcoming a drug addiction and deciding it was time to clean up and get back on her feet. She's been clean for two years.
Her daughters, Marjorie and Kareema, were already living in town when Stansbury came to stay with them. Marjorie raised Kareema while her mother was living in the city.
"I'm still in treatment," Stansbury said. "Things are going great now, but I don't have enough money to actually do Christmas."
Stansbury is looking for a job while raising her youngest and helping to raise her three grandchildren. She's been visiting CareerLink and working to obtain a high school equivalency degree. She said she would like to get a job in the health field, either working with the elderly or young children.
"I love working with people, especially younger and older," she said. "I hope one day that dream comes true. Sunbury is beautiful compared to the city life."
With the help of the Needy Family Fund, Stansbury wants to have some presents for her children and grandchildren to open Christmas morning.
Kareema, 8, is hoping for a toy guitar to go along with the toy piano she received last year.
"She's very musical and loves to draw," her mother said. "She puts all her drawings up. We were on our way to the doctor (recently) and she said, 'Mom, you know an artist can't be rushed.' "
Her granddaughter, Ikeya, 6, wants a Baby Alive doll, which is a doll for a child to care for.
Her grandson, Nylee, 4, is hoping for Transformers and her 3-year-old grandson, Hakeem, is interested in Ninja Turtles.
Her oldest daughter, Marjorie, 24, would like a robe and slippers.
Stansbury said she had two sons killed in the city and has two more still living in the city. She's hoping they will leave there and start a fresh life.
"I've been fortunate," she said. "I'm still in treatment, and I guess I'll be in for the rest of my life because the problem never goes away. But I have the strength to stay away and do better. ... I thank God for sending me here."
n E-mail comments to gmorton@dailyitem.com.
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