Grands As Parents Inc.<\/a>, aka GAP, supports grandparents who take on the role of parent when their children can’t.<\/p>\nJoan Hughes and Juanita Cox have been friends for more than 50 years. For 30 of those years, they’ve been part of GAP.<\/p>\n
“She brought me here, and I have been here ever since,” Hughes said<\/p>\n
Cox isn’t just a member \u2014 she’s also a grandmother who adopted two of her grandsons.<\/p>\n
She said when their parents struggled with addiction, she had to quit her job to care for the boys.<\/p>\n
“I had low income and I had to quit my job to take care of these babies\u2026 I needed extra food because it was only me,” Cox said.<\/p>\n
Organizers said stories like Cox’s are not rare. A recent report says nearly 30% of grandparents in Philadelphia are now serving as guardians \u2014 and that’s why support matters.<\/p>\n
“Grandparents are on a fixed income \u2026 maybe there’s not enough food for everyone, toiletries, money \u2014 but they make it work,” Marcia Abdul-Malik said.<\/p>\n
GAP started in 1996 with just three women. Today, it’s a place where grandparents can find resources \u2014 and one another.<\/p>\n
“Keeping kids off the streets \u2026 they start looking forward to coming to GAP,” Hughes said.<\/p>\n
For grandparents who have spent a lifetime caring for others, GAP wants them to know they don’t have to carry the load alone.<\/p>\n
“Don’t be afraid \u2026 just come on down,” Cox said. “We all need help at one time or another.”<\/p>\n
GAP provides food, clothing, housing support and legal resources for grandparents raising their grandchildren. The organization relies on community support and is preparing for a Mother’s Day fundraiser to continue the work.<\/p>\n
\n More from CBS News\n <\/p>\n
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