Purcellville teen an "Inspiration" for BetterALife

Four years ago, Loudoun Valley High School senior Ashley Pena was in a difficult place in life.

At the age of 13, she was the primary caretaker of about 10 children, including her brother and young cousins, in their Purcellville apartment. She was depressed, her grades were low and she used drugs and alcohol to help cope with her situation.

The lowest point was when her mother was in the hospital and her stepfather tried to abuse her, she said. She was doing most of the work around the house and the financial and food insecurity stress became overwhelming, she said.

“I was sneaking out and doing badly in school. I didn’t care about anything,” she said.

One day, her young cousin looked at her and told her to stop using drugs.

That was a wake-up call, she said, and she began trying to improve her grades; she wanted to turn her life around.

Pena met Elizabeth Ford, founder of the Purcellville-based nonprofit BetterALife, when she dropped off free lunches at Pena’s doorstep during the pandemic.

Over time, they bonded as the nonprofit helped Pena’s family.

“It was a miracle that I met Elizabeth,” Pena said. “It was the most difficult time, and I felt so useless. I wouldn’t listen to my mother and I did so many bad things. I did not care.”

Pena turned to Ford for guidance and eventually began volunteering. It helped her feel useful and better about herself because she was giving back to the community, especially at Christmastime, she said.

“When I was little, we had nothing. Every year the fire trucks would bring gifts, and we always looked forward to it,” she said.

Ford remembers how Pena was suffering at the time.

“She was lost,” Ford recalls. “I saw myself in her because she grew up how I grew up.”

When she was a teen, Ford also was in an unstable family, and she experienced food and housing insecurity throughout her young adult life.

She understands how hunger can cause depression, confusion and frustration. And that’s why she started BetterALife in 2016.

Ford wants people to know if they are in that situation, there is hope.

When Pena saw how other people cared about her, she was inspired to quickly improve her grades. She was accepted to a program in the Academies of Loudoun, and she now participates in extracurricular activities at school while managing her time as a volunteer and caregiver. A recent gala event hosted by BetterALife honored Pena with the “inspiration of the year” award.

Ford’s goal for teens like Pena is to break the cycle and help them find a path toward college. Pena has become “like a daughter” to Ford, she said, and they have been working on college applications this fall.

Pena said she never thought she would be a college student, but she now realizes the opportunities are endless.

“I feel proud. Before I would feel like I could never do this. I didn’t think I could afford it. I put my family through so much and (Ford) made me who I am today,” Pena said.

BetterALife has locations in Purcellville and Reston and works with about 200 children every month. The organization is currently preparing for the holiday season and collecting presents for local children.

Families in need can go to its storefront at 201 N. Maple Ave. in Purcellville for the food pantry, financial assistance, homework help, cooking lessons and more. Visit betteralife.org for more information.