Because of You: Firsts for Kids in Care
Do you know how to ride a bike? Many people were taught how to pedal down the sidewalk outside their house when they were small, spotted at first by a hand to guide them as they fumbled and learned to balance on their own. For many of us, it was a part of our growing up, a part of childhood we look back on fondly.
For some of the children in our care, these special moments were few and far between, if they happened at all. For some, the first helpful hand that’s ever guided them is a house or foster parents’, a social worker’s, or a counselor’s. Because of the support of our donors, we get to share many firsts with these children when they’re with us. Some have never had the opportunity to feel proud of themselves for learning to ride a bike, feel the joy of being in the stands at a football game, attending their first baseball game (complete with hot dogs!), or experiencing the excitement of a family vacation.
We want to share a few firsts our kids have experienced recently. Because of your support, they’ve had opportunities to see things they’ve never seen before, to have fun, and to just be kids! For this, we are grateful to God, and for you.
A FIRST BIKE RIDE
Because of a generous donation from a faithful donor, our girls were allowed to go and pick out a new bike. We planned a fun night out shopping for the bikes. By the time we got home, it was too late to ride them. After carefully putting each bike away, one of our girls came to me and shared she did not know how to ride her new bike. She was 17 years old. We assured her that it was okay, and that we’d teach her.
As you might expect, everyone was up bright and early the next day to get their chores done so they could ride their new bikes. Before we could get outside, one of the other girls had taken it upon herself to teach the one struggling, to balance and pedal at the same time. Now she rides like a pro!
I was surprised when she came to me and let me know she didn’t know how to ride a bike, but I was quickly reminded (in my spirit) that we all come from different places in life. Some are harder places than others. While her place did not allow this opportunity, she has it now, all because of caring Alabama Baptists that love and support children. –from Tammy Anderson, House Parent
A FIRST FAMILY VACATION
“I’ve never seen the mountains.” These words were spoken by a six-year-old girl in foster care, placed with one of our families. For fall break, she got to do more than just see the mountains, she got to experience them. She rode on a ski lift to the very top, lost her voice on a mountain roller coaster, stayed in a cabin, and saw a mama bear with her cubs. This was the first time she’d been on a family vacation. She now asks, “When can we go back?” –from Mandy Irby, Social Worker
A FIRST COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME
One of our ministry leaders called, saying he had been gifted with two football tickets for the Iron Bowl and wanted to know if a foster family could be blessed by them. We reached out to one of our foster families, who have adopted three children. Their 7-year-old is a huge football fan. He told his dad that he was asking Santa to meet one of the star Auburn football players. His dad had laughed, knowing that he would be unable to answer this request. However, with the gift of the tickets, his dad took him to the Iron Bowl, they sat at the 50-yard line, and his son shook hands with all the Auburn players before the game! –from Kim McGainey, Area Director for Southeast Alabama
CHATTANOOGA: A TRIP FULL OF FIRSTS
We left for Chattanooga on a summery Tuesday afternoon. We stopped to check in to the hotel, and one of our boys shared he’d never stayed in a hotel before. That evening, we went to the Chattanooga Lookouts baseball game. None of the three boys in our home had ever been to a baseball game before. We ate hotdogs at the game, which was a must. On the third day, we went on a train ride through woods and tunnels of Chattanooga on the Tennessee Valley Railway. That was a neat experience because it was their first time on a real train! –Josh Hill, House Parent
We hope these stories encourage you, that your gifts are making so many differences in the lives of children across the state. If you have not yet partnered with us through Hero Partners and would like to, you can do so on our website today.