Maria Burks with the Home Stretch Foundation received a $1,000 check from KMB Insurance through Keystone Insurance group Thursday morning. Keystone’s parent Tuscarora Wayne Insurance Company makes charitable donations to communities where their company services insurance needs.

Matt Miller, Business Development Officer with Keystone National Insurance Company, said they let their agencies decide where the money is most needed and KMB Insurance selected Home Stretch, a new organization that is helping local teens.

Burks said the donation will help with the placement of teenagers who are 18 years old and still in high school who are looking for a place to live while they finish school.

“We have kids in the county who are in serious trouble, where things are falling apart at home and they’ve had to quit school to get a job or leave home,” she said, adding those are the kids Home Stretch wants to help.

“We want to get people who open their hearts and homes to kids.”

Burks said several families in the community are ready help by letting these kids move in, finish school and then go to work or college after graduation. She said there about a dozen students across the county every year who find themselves in this situation.

“We want to give them a place to live and finish school,” she said.

Home Stretch started last fall, and they’ve had one placement this school year. The students must be at least 18 years of age because they are still in their parents’ custody otherwise. The first placement was in April when the child turned 18 and they stayed at the home through May when they graduated.

“We want to hook these kids up with mentors and people who can prepare them for their future,” she said. “A lot of people are willing to help with the placements because it is short term.”

Burks was thankful to Miller and KMB co-owner Jonathan Spaulding, who picked the program to receive the funds. KMB is a great resource for not-for-profit organizations and their commercial insurance needs, especially those that are faith-based” says Spaulding.