Miss RI USA hosts fundraiser for homeless

Just looking at the stunning Miss Rhode Island USA Anea Garcia you'd never know that she was homeless for years.

It's a part of her past she'll never forget and she doesn't want to. Garcia is using her past experience and her current success to give others hope.

"You find yourself in a place where you want to give up, but I just really want to share with people not to give up. I know it's a lot easier said than done, but I'm an example of when you don't give up things happen,” said Garcia.

Working with woman and children living in poverty is the 20-year-old beauty queen's platform.

Wednesday night she hosted a fundraiser at the Dunk to help raise money for McAuley Ministries. It’s a local organization that helps provide the basic needs to people struggling to get by.

"I'm hoping people come and get to meet me and support the cause and ask any questions that they have,” said Garcia.

Garcia, who is from Cranston, was adopted by her grandmother at birth. Her mother was raped at the age of 13.

It was when Garcia turned 13 that the money problems began to really set in.

"Little by little things were slowly tumbling down so we weren't able to pay certain bills and then it was like we couldn't afford the rent. We found ourselves in the street,” said Garcia.

Garcia says she and her grandmother lived in a car until she was 17 or 18 years old.

In the years since… she's has made quite a name for herself finishing third in the miss USA pageant a few weeks back.

But, for those still stuck in rough times… she says there's an important message to keep in mind.

"There's a purpose out there for you and the only way to find that out is to keep trying,” said Garcia.

(C) WLNE 2015