Through our “Bridging the Gap Program,” we provide the children we serve with more than the basic necessities the foster families can provide. This is where we need partners like you. This program will help us to continue providing in areas that build self-esteem, self-worth, and acceptance by other children. Below are just a few areas in which “Bridging the Gap” provides for the children in our care.
Jump Start Allowance: Children coming into care are often removed from chaotic homes with no advance warning. The main goal is to safely and quickly remove the child from the home. This leaves little focus on gathering the children’s clothes and other personal belongings – they leave home with nothing but the clothes on their backs and little else.
To help “jump start” meeting their needs, the foster family is given $150 per child upon placement to provide for their immediate needs. This provides them with clothing, shoes, baby/toddler equipment, formula, diapers, etc…
Back to School Needs: Education is a major hurdle for foster children. Research shows foster children are behind an average of two years in school. Being behind is a result of learning disabilities, learning gaps from lack of school attendance, and low self esteem. Foster parents and AWFC staff work diligently with the school personnel to meet the educational needs of their children in care.
To meet the “Back to School Needs” of our children, the family receives $100 per child for new school clothes. In addition, we provide some of the basic school supplies for each child. Although self esteem is much deeper than appearance, it really helps a youngster start school if they have new school clothes. If a child looks good, he has much more confidence as he starts a new year. It is also important to have new school supplies just like all the other children.
Christmas: As it is for most children, Christmas is a very exciting time of the year for our kids. Many of them are from biological homes where they have been abused in unmentionable ways. Most of them have only known Christmas as a time when all of the adults were drunk and abusive and where there were no gifts and in many cases not even a Christmas tree. They saw other children receiving all kinds of gifts and all they could do was hang their little heads in sadness and wonder why they could not receive a gift.
Here at AWFC, each office creates a magical Christmas for those children whose culture and faith celebrate Christmas, complete with a party, Santa Claus, Christmas gifts and lots of good food and fellowship. In addition to funding these parties, we also give each child a $50 Wal-Mart gift card to use however they wish. This is the first time for many of them to have their very own money to purchase whatever they want. Each child also receives a $25 gift based on a personal wish list they provide to their Case Managers. Watching their eyes light up as they open their gifts is something to behold!
A World For Children is recognized by the IRS as a 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt organization so all donations are tax-deductible. Your donation will be recognized with a thank you letter and a receipt for tax-purposes.
