Hope in Action is a series to highlight the aspects of our volunteer work. Advocacy for a child, whether in child welfare, juvenile justice, or truancy systems, covers several activities from court hearings to visits with a child to conversations with parents. Each month, we share a story of small (or big!) moments from one of our cases that exemplify what advocacy can mean to children and their families.

Holidays in a shelter

When Advocate Kelley Wolf took her first case in December 2017, she drove an hour-and-a-half to visit the two children at a temporary children’s shelter. No foster placements were available for the siblings, a sixth-grade boy and a fifth-grade girl. She was unsure of what to expect when she walked in to meet two children who’d never met her.

“It was a week before Christmas,” Kelley said, “and I couldn’t imagine how these two children felt being so far from home.”

Bags of Love

To help the children with the transition, Kelley brought with her two bags of love from Child Advocates. A local chapter of the nonprofit Bags of Love creates custom bags for the specific age and gender of a child. The nonprofit fills the handmade bags with items needed for hygiene, comfort, and fun. The bags include toiletries, clothing and outerwear, books, quilt or blanket, stuffed animals, and toys. The bags are available at the office for Advocates to pick up before visiting the children they serve.

“They didn’t know me,” Kelley said. “They didn’t know I would be bringing anything. I expected to stay maybe 30 minutes, but the children were so happy to see me, and probably very scared. They loved the bags.”

After her first visit with Kai* and Maya*, Kelley continued to advocate for them as they moved into a foster home and the case continued. The parents worked their services, and by Christmas of 2018, the family was reunified and the case closed after a successful monitored return home.

Hope prevails

Kelley stayed in touch with the family for a few years, then lost touch. Earlier this year, she learned that Kai had graduated from high school, and the two met for lunch.

“We talked about that time I first met him, and he talked about that bag,” Kelley said. “He didn’t talk about the toys I brought. He was so excited to have a toothbrush and toothpaste. That’s what he remembered. He remembered me being there and not wanting me to leave.”

During this season of joy for many, we remember the children in our community who are in crisis. The children we serve may not be spending the holidays with their families. Being separated from family and familiar traditions adds another layer of grief and loss for a vulnerable child.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of donors, our Advocates have been busy this month ensuring that every child we serve has brand-new toys to open at their holiday celebrations. These toys bring big smiles and laughter, and we are so grateful we can deliver these gifts. We’re also grateful to Bags of Love for providing the necessities a child needs when moving placements.

Kai’s memory of his first time meeting Kelley reminds us that the most meaningful moments are often showing up with kindness and providing what a child needs when they are in crisis. When Kelley arrived at the shelter seven years ago, Kai and Maya knew they were not alone.

*Names changed for privacy

More Advocates needed

We have an urgent need for more volunteers to step up and serve children in our community, especially justice-involved youth (JIY). These youth have experienced many of the same challenges faced by children in the child welfare system, but they have not been removed from their home. They need our advocacy more than ever. If you are already an Advocate, talk to your Advocacy Specialist to learn more about serving on a JIY case. If you would like to learn more about being an Advocate, click the button below.

Advocate for Children