Dear Fostering Connections St. Johns Supporters,
I hope you and your families are having a wonderful summer!
On behalf of Fostering Connections St. Johns, I want to thank each of you for your support the last few months. The number of children in foster care is growing, and the needs are great. Children in kinship care split among different relatives. Teens removed from a domestic violence situation with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Teens who have experienced multiple placement changes. A teen boy living with relatives sleeping on a sofa.
These are just a few of the stories from the many children and foster parents we serve. When we've shared their stories with you, you all have been generous in your support; donating clothing, car seats, and furniture to fill in the gaps. Your support has given the children hope during a very difficult time.
We have missed seeing our foster families and supporters in person the last few months . Over the past couple of months, we have been planning our programming for fall with social distancing precautions in place. Our goal is to give each student a great learning experience while keeping everyone safe.
In August, we will be hosting our Career Readiness Academy for teens and young adults in partnership with The Kookaburra. On August 28, we will be hosting a Live Auction on Facebook to support Career Readiness Academy student internships. Learn more about the Career Readiness Academy and ways to give support to the Career Readiness Academy that are featured in this months' newsletter.
Also in August, we will be offering Curbside School Supply pick up for foster families and resuming our care package program. We look forward to resuming our Arts programs in September and hosting the College Readiness Academy later this fall.
I invite you to attend our programs and meet the wonderful youth we support. Social capital,the personal relationships youth have with caring adults, can greatly influence their future opportunities. Building connections and relationships is powerful for our youth in foster care. When the community comes together, the gaps are filled and children thrive! Join us in helping children in foster care thrive.
Kind Regards,
Aubrie Simpson-Gotham
Founder & President