Jackson, who grew up in foster care, searched for and found her sister, who also grew up in foster care. But her sister died of cancer in August 2004, and Jackson adopted her 10 nieces and nephews, according to a story on the family that appeared in the Dec. 29, 2004 issue of The Gazette.
“She kept on saying she wanted her kids together,“ Jackson, then 32, told The Gazette in 2004. “She just begged me to keep them together and to take care of them the way she would have taken care of them.“
At the time, a Kingsview Middle School teacher who taught some of the kids before the family moved from Germantown to Rockville coordinated volunteer efforts to help the family.
The teacher told The Gazette that 23 schools, organizations and companies countywide donated cash, toys, home appliances and furniture to help the family.
According to the statement from ABC, Jackson works as a security guard at a mall, and can't afford or find permanent housing. They have been living in a hotel since December.
If Felicia doesn't find housing, the children up will enter the foster care system, according to the statement.
According to the statement, ‘‘With the community behind her story and fight for self sufficiency, the community deeded her a piece of land with a small 5 bedroom house that needs major repairs.”
The two-story home, built in 1950, is located at 19505 Jerusalem Church Terrace.
The Jackson family is on vacation in Walt Disney World in Florida during the week-long construction. Hundreds of community volunteers participate in the project.
“These kids are one in a million,“ Jackson told The Gazette in 2004. “If I had to do it all over again, even though I know there are rough spots, I'd do it all over again.“
