Safe and Secure
In a matter of months, everything changed for 10-year-old Ben* and his little brother.
Ben and his brother came to live in our campus home in Dothan from an extremely difficult home environment where they were constantly neglected by their mother. The rare times she was around, they were subjected to domestic violence between her and her boyfriend, witnessing their fights firsthand.
If that wasn’t bad enough, there was no food in the house, and it had become overrun with bed bugs. When the boys came to ABCH, they were severely undernourished and bites covered them from head to toe.
The boys were immediately provided medical attention, warm meals, and a clean, safe home. It also didn’t take long for Kim McGainey, our Area Director in Dothan, to discover how incredibly bright Ben is and how much he loved to learn. Ben grew, both mentally and physically, in the short time he was with us. Nutritious food and loving attention can do that.
“When it was time for Ben to leave, he shared with me just how much he loved being in our home,” Kim recalls.
One of the things Ben got to do while in our care was take his first trip to the beach. While he didn’t necessarily enjoy the water, he found another way to enjoy the day while making a really sweet observation. He told Kim that he chose to pick up seashells along the shore while the other kids played in the water because, ‘Sometimes you have to let other people enjoy good things too.’ And Kim said he wound up really enjoying picking up and collecting those shells!
She continues, “Before he left, he talked about the fun things he got to do like camps and his first trip to the beach, but more than that, he always felt safe. He never had to worry if there would be food and snacks available or clothes and shoes that fit.”
After a few months, Ben and his brother were able to move in with a family member who was excited to welcome the boys into their home. Today, Kim says the boys are doing great and adjusting well at home and in school.
Before the boys moved, your support enabled us to provide them with new school clothes, shoes, and school supplies for the year. After having nothing for so long, Kim shared they were so proud of all the things they were able to bring with them to their new home.
When you give to the Children’s Homes, you provide children like Ben—hungry, neglected, and desperate for real love—with warm meals, a loving Christ-centered home, clothing and shoes, quality life experiences, and so much more.
Learn more about our Homes for Children.
*Name and photo have been changed for privacy purposes