LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — Parents depend on schools for more than just teaching their children. “I’m frazzled, I’m tired, it’s been crazy,” FCPS parent Kari Stevens said. From education all the way to a place to eat, schools provide students with a place to learn and grow. They also provide parents with the time to work and manage their daily lives. “Just know there’s a lot of us out there who are struggling right now, and we’re so ready to go back to school,” FCPS parent Ashley Benkert said. For these single parents, sending their kids to school allows them to go to work so they can provide for their children. Tanya Torp “They are really struggling financially,” Tayna Torp with Step By Step said. “When they don’t work, they are unable to raise the funds that they need for basic bills and basic needs.” Torp adds that these icy road conditions and NTI days are negatively impacting single parents struggling to make ends meet. “Hunger is a huge issue for our moms, when you are used to the school being able to have your child there getting two meals a day,” she said. The frustration is setting in for these parents. “As a single parent, I’m expected to have all my act together,” Stevens said. It’s not just hard for the parents, but for the kids as well. “Some of these kids have services that are at school that they’re getting and they’re not getting those services while they’re at home,” Torp said. They all just hope the roads become clear enough so their kids can go back to school, and they can go back to work. “I understand why Fayette County can’t send them back, but I feel like we need to come up with a better solution if this ever happens again,” Benkert said. If you would like to help single moms during this time, you can visit Step By Step’s website. Categories: Featured, Local News, News Tags: Education, FCPS, icy roads, NTI, single moms, single parents, snow, Winter Weather