Spreading Christ's Love and Joy

by Janice Villiers on May 03, 2022

The Foster Youth Ministry has been working on your behalf and bringing much-needed help to families in need.  We reported previously that St. Mary Magdalene and St. Martin (St.MM&M) partnered with CarePortal to identify foster children and vulnerable families in Broward County who needed help. CarePortal is a technological platform
that connects social workers with churches and community groups to facilitate assistance to families by providing specific items, money, and/or prayers. We recently responded to several requests – a family in Pompano Beach just had their fourth child. The baby was delivered prematurely and is still in the hospital. The mother needed two
breast pumps, a baby swing, clothes, diapers, and wipes. St.MM&M supplied their needs and delivered the items requested – a picture is worth a thousand words and the smiling faces of the parents speak volumes!!  

A request from Fort Lauderdale led us to a non-relative caregiver who adopted four siblings and just welcomed the children’s prematurely delivered brother. This amazing couple also plan to adopt this baby but needed a car seat and stroller, diapers, wipes, clothes, and bibs. Once again, a Foster Care team delivered those items to them.

Each request tugs at our heartstrings, but the following one really got our attention:
Help Preserve a Foster Care Placement: Four siblings were removed due to physical abuse and substance misuse. The mother was arrested and the children were not able to get any of their belongings to take with them. They arrived at the foster home and shelter with the clothes they had on. They are in need of clothing, shoes, uniforms,
undergarments, socks, and hygiene supplies. The children are in two different placements. They are ages 3 1/2-year-old female, 7-year-old female, 13-year-old male, and a 14-year-old female. Any assistance provided will be wonderful.  

On this project, we worked in collaboration with the Rev. Jacquelyn Rowe and Beverly Summerbell of the Foster and At-Risk Youth Ministries of the Diocese. They received a donation of shoes and socks from St. Andrew’s Episcopal School and the Chapel of St. Andrew in Boca Raton. I would also like to express my gratitude to the social workers and parents who were so helpful in coordinating the distribution of the gifts and a special thanks to our other generous donors who helped these families: the Episcopal Church Women of St. Mary Magdalene, Liz, and Joe Ryan, Jean O’Sullivan, Pamela Singh, and The Rector’s Discretionary Fund of St. MM&M. When we made our deliveries the joy on the faces of the children was a priceless gift to us! We welcome donations earmarked for the Foster Youth Ministry as we continue to bring Christ’s Love and Joy to our neighbors!

Tags: family, donations, need, caregivers, vulnerable, thank you!, careportal, foster youth ministry

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