“To the hundreds of thousands of children in the U.S. who are either abused, in foster care, or homeless.
The journey is long and often dark but you must believe in your light- you have so much to offer.”~Regina Calcaterra, Etched in Sand
Since reading Etched in Sand, a memoir following five siblings in the foster care system, Regina Calceterra’s words have haunted me; she describes their struggle with homelessness, hunger, and neglect – a reality faced by every youth aging out of the foster care system. A reality that is all too familiar for the youth at RWJD.
Fortunately, as the youth at RWJD begin their journey out of the foster care system, they have dedicated staff, proven programs, and a pantry filled with food. With full bellies, they can focus on reaching their goals of learning to live independently, obtaining a GED, and finding a job. They start to believe in themselves and what they have to offer. This confidence helps them transition from foster youth to independent, productive members of the community. Your food donation each month ensures that these goals are achieved – you are making a difference in the lives of every youth at RWJD.
Requests for November:
canned fruit
canned vegetables
If you would like to read Etched in Sand, I am happy to lend my copy; to watch Regina Calceterra speak about the foster care system, visit this link on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfqM4O7GSWY&sns=em
Thank you to all the students at Pardes Jewish Day School. Below are photos of the bags of food they collected for Just 3 Things!
