Kody (14 year old male), Ian (16 year old male), Matt (15 year old male), & Chris (14 year old male)
Can you even imagine trying to fund clothes, activities, shoes, sporting equipment, etc. for 4 teen boys?! These four children are living with one of my favorite foster parents of all time! As I said last year, she is a tiny spitfire of a lady who runs a tight ship but does so very lovingly. She has introduced all the kids in her home to equine therapy and has created a family for them that they've never known before now. This is the fourth year that Brunch With A Purpose has sponsored this family. Christmas is a really hard time for most children in foster care-- especially older children. Three of these children have had at least 2 failed adoptions (meaning a family takes them into their home, adopts them, then changes their mind and gives them back to the system). The foster parents spend so much energy keeping everyone somewhat stable during the holidays that managing all the shopping, wrapping, etc., can be almost impossible-- especially when you consider that the gifts that older children want are often expensive. The foster mother is so grateful to all of you for helping her!
Kody has some developmental delays that cause him to have very high needs. He has come into the system on several occasions due to his biological family's struggles with addiction. He requires a great deal of structure that his foster family provides. His foster family works closely with his biological family and he's doing well.
Ian has been in his current foster home for 6 years. He was with his biological mother for the first 3 years of his life but due to severe mental health issues, she was unable to care for him. He moved from foster home to foster home until he came to this current foster family. He has found a place to call his forever home with this foster family. He is truly a part of their family and is thriving.
Matt is a great young man who has been in the foster care system for many years. He has experienced many moves and several failed placements due to his high needs and the high level of care he requires. He has been in his current foster home for 5 years and is, like Ian, very much a part of their family. He, too, will be with his current foster family until he ages out of foster care (what we call emancipation).
Chris has been in the system for most of his life. He has experienced numerous moves and a couple of failed adoptions. He has many special needs and demands a high level of care, which makes it difficult for him to maintain stability. He is now in a long term foster family that believes in him and wants him to be a part of their family forever.
Kody's Wish List:
legos for an older child
skateboard
helmet
bike (not sure about size- will find out!)
xbox game: Dance 3
I-pod shuffle
warm gloves
socks (wears shoe size 6-7)
Ian's Wish List:
Wii game: Donkey Kong Country Returns
xbox game: Kinect Sports
bike (26 inch frame)
warm gloves
socks
Matt's Wish List:
ipod
wii games
xbox games
skateboard
helmet
warm gloves
socks
boots (wears size 8 shoes)- or a gift certificate to a shoe store so he can pick out his own
skinny jeans (size 14 slim)- or a gift certificate so he can pick out his own
Chris' Wish List:
small flat television
DVD player
boots (wears shoe size 11)- or a gift certificate to a shoe store so he can pick out his own
xbox games
wii games
pants (wears size 30 waist, 31 length)- or a gift certificate so he can pick out some clothes for himself
warm gloves
socks (wears shoe size 11)
Foster Family's Wish List:
These boys tear through sporting equipment because they are always outside playing sports and being active. They desperately need sports items!
basketball
soccer ball
football
Lacrosse sticks
Lacrosse balls
tennis rackets
tennis balls