Sharing GREAT News
Over the last couple of weeks, our SHINE program participants and volunteers have been focused on GOALS! They have completed resumes for four participating youth, who were then able to attend a job fair where interviews were scheduled. We have seen confidence grow as these young adults learn that they DO have skills, they ARE prepared for their interviews, and they CAN get a job! This is a monumental shift in their beliefs about themselves.
Who are our SHINE program participants? They are young adults who have aged out of foster care or group home life. For many reasons, they do not have the support of their biological family. The statistics for this vulnerable group are grim. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation: 20% of kids become instantly homeless when they age out of foster care; 50% of kids in foster care had a parent in foster care; 60% of young adults aging out of foster care will turn to sex trafficking to support themselves; 71% of girls who age out will be pregnant before reaching the age of 21, frequently passing their trauma on to the next generation.
The sad truth is that we live in a tough and—at times—evil world, a world where it’s all too easy to go astray. The at-risk youth we serve are some of the most vulnerable in our community when it comes to seeking help that isn't healthy or helpful. They find themselves staying with people who are very unhealthy and are acutely aware of how to take advantage of vulnerable people. These young adults are at risk of choosing drinking, drugs, or other methods to cope with their trauma and escape the heaviness of life, even if for a short time.
James 2:14-17 asks us, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
Here at Collins, we know the cycle can be broken and replaced with wholesome, independent living. We are faith in action, love in motion, and we want you to join us:
Pray with us: We ask for prayers for those in our community who feel so lost, who don't know Christ and who turn to what is comfortable or familiar, even when they know it’s the wrong decision. Pray that the parents, children, and young adults we serve become confident, trust in us and our process, lean on God rather than the world, and KNOW they are cared for and loved.
Put your faith into practice and volunteer with us: https://collinsfamilyministries.org/volunteer.
Support us: Give to Collins between now and August 15 and double your impact during our matching gift campaign. Call our office at (864)882-0893 or visit our website to give. Together, with God’s help, we are changing the future.
Collins Family Ministries provides shelter to children and at-risk youth, strength to families, and stability to our community. Learn more: collinsfamilyministries.org.
by Kelly Liston, SHINE Program Director