Giving Back Magazine December 2018 | Page 16

Youth YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR FOSTER CHILDREN! L ife used to be good for Rebecca and Dawn. They lived in a comfortable home with loving parents. Dawn wanted to be just like Rebecca and Rebecca loved teaching Dawn how to act grown up. Until four years ago when tragedy struck, and their parents were killed. of their lives. They’ve kept in touch the last few months too, attending monthly Camp Connect events that donors like you make possible. And although it’s only been a few months, their new families have noticed some wonderful changes in the sisters. Dawn’s grandmother says she’s less anxious. She’s sleeping better, and she smiles more. Rebecca and Dawn, with nowhere else to go, moved in with their grandmother. But Rebecca, struggling with her grief and anger, began acting out - breaking things and skipping school. Their grandmother tried her best, but it was too much for her and placed Rebecca in foster care. And Rebecca’s foster mom says her behavior has improved. She’s helping around the house and knuckling down on her schoolwork. There’s been no more talk about running away, because she doesn’t want to miss a chance to see Dawn. These two young sisters were separated. Your donation will bring siblings together to draw strength from each other… siblings who have spent too long suffering alone. And for Rebecca and Dawn - and hundreds of other foster youth who have lost the bonds they had with their siblings - that connection could make all the difference. Time and again, Rebecca ran away and lived on the streets, returning weeks or months later. For 3 years, the sisters - each the only person in the world who could truly understand what the other was going through - were not able to see each other. That’s where Promises2Kids Camp Connect came in to help! Camp Connect is a donor-supported program designed to give foster children who have been separated from their siblings the opportunity to bond and rebuild relationships. Camp Connect is just one of Promises2Kids’ proven programs to help San Diego’s foster youth. At Camp Connect, brothers and sisters who haven’t seen each other in months - sometimes in years - finally get to be together and do things that kids love to do - swimming, zip-lining, singing and eating s’mores around a campfire. At Camp Connect, siblings in foster care get to know each other again, forgetting about their sadness for a few carefree days. Rebecca and Dawn went to Camp Connect this summer and had the time 16 GBSAN.COM | DECEMBER 2018