Two Simple Ways to Make a Difference in Kids’ Lives

Make A Difference in the Lives of Kids at Wedgwood – 2 Simple Ways

Wedgwood Christian Services’ Residential Program is home to children from 8 years old to 18 years old who have had rough starts to their young lives – having experienced immense trauma, abuse & neglect, and mental, behavioral, and emotional challenges, and removal from their family homes.

On average, a child will call Wedgwood home for 578 days. While kids often arrive at Wedgwood with a lot of anger and hurt, the safe environment and compassion shown by staff members soon begin to feel a little more like home.

Through recreation therapy and wellness activities, optional chaplaincy services and Young Life Club, specialized individual and group therapies, structure and educational support, and employment and life skills training, Wedgwood’s Direct Care team provides kids with opportunities to rebuild confidence and find healing. It’s not always an easy process for kids. They have been let down and hurt by people that were supposed to care for them. But Wedgwood’s dedicated staff members, and generous supporters can step-up to help restore hope.

Here are 2 simple, impactful ways people, families, business, organizations, and small groups can make a difference and encourage the young people in Wedgwood’s Residential Program:

1: Make Encouragement Cards

Hand-decorated, handwritten notes of encouragement are a great mood-booster for kids who might be having a tough day. These cards not only offer encouragement but remind kids that there are kind people who care about them and are cheering on their successes. It’s not uncommon for the cards prominently displayed on the walls of kids’ bedrooms or packed up and taken with kids as they transition out of Wedgwood’s care.

Wedgwood can supply cards for individuals and groups to decorate and write encouraging messages in. For details, email mbowser@wedgwood.org.

2: Sponsor Birthday Celebrations

Before arriving in Wedgwood’s care, many kids were not celebrated, were not thrown birthday parties, or given gifts. By celebrating birthdays, kids begin to understand that they are loved and worth celebrating!

$30 covers the cost of one birthday celebration. Sponsoring a month of birthdays is $300, and $3,600 gives a year of celebrations. Gifts in support of birthday celebrations can be made at www.wedgwood.org/give with BIRTHDAY FUND noted. For additional details about celebrating birthdays at Wedgwood, email mbowser@wedgwood.org.

“Extra encouragement and celebration sparks joy for kids in our care,” said Vivian TerMaat, Wedgwood Chief Advancement Officer. “And that can really have a tremendous impact on their self-esteem and receptiveness to the therapeutic activities and treatment that are so crucial to their healing and development.”