Suncoast Voices For Children Foundation

Imagine a bicycle, helmet and lock being a lifeline. A lifeline to independence but also a lifeline to reduced stress, better mental health, academic achievement and success. Suncoast Voices received a request to assist with laundry supplies, bedding and pillows for the children, a car seat and a bicycle with a helmet. This family was referred to the STEPS Program through CPS. The family consists of 2 adults and 4 children that are living in poverty. While one adult works with limited income, the mother was in the process of a disability claim due to a back injury and suffers from mobility issues. The family was affected by both hurricanes which resulted in loss including being without power for 9 days and losing all of their refrigerated and frozen food. The children's rooms and laundry area flooded which resulted in the loss of their mattresses, bedding and laundry supplies. We were more than willing to help assist this family, but being able to provide the bicycle, helmet and lock was one of the highlights of this request. The family lives in an area that is lacking in public transportation, and the mother cannot walk the child to school due to her mobility issues. School transportation was not available for the oldest child due to their location, but the bicycle, helmet and lock made it possible for the child to make it to and from school in a timely manner and not have to worry about the possibility of missing school. What joy in being able to provide a resource that could help prevent falling behind academically, that could reduce the amount of stress for the child and the parent and helped the child feel a little bit of independence. If you would like to hear more impact stories, message us and we will add you to our Voices in Action newsletter.

Jeremy was a 15-year-old young man that came into care due to his mother abandoning him. Having no other relatives nearby or potential caregivers that would step up, he ended up being placed in a group home. Trying to navigate his way through the feeling of abandonment and being in a place that he didn't want to be, Jeremy also decided that he was going to stop going to school. Already feeling like he would be an outcast, he didn't want to experience more feelings of not fitting in. Where were these new feelings coming from? Jeremy didn't have proper school supplies therefore not feeling prepared and he didn't want to have to rely on constantly asking his teachers and/or classmates for supplies. He knew there was a risk of falling behind and potentially impacting moving into the next grade at the end of the year, but he didn't want to feel like a bigger burden. We received the request to purchase school supplies and equip Jeremy with all the tools needed for his classes and the remainder of the school year. With no hesitation, Voices ordered the supplies that day and had them shipped directly to Jeremy. The first day after winter break, he was back at school. The feelings of being valued and supported are often times the biggest piece of a young person's added resilience and motivation to move forward. No student should be in a situation where they are contemplating attending school because they don't have the resources that they need, and we were happy to be able to help Jeremy stay on track.

"Thank you for the children's beds. They were sleeping on a hard floor in front of the laundry room on top of a thin mat and a blanket to cover up with. When they saw the beds, they were excited to have their own bed and they both said thank you...thank you!! I hope that you know the difference that you have made for our family." -Tammy Maria and Princeton's case presented itself as their mother was dealing with some mental health issues and challenges of keeping up with the needs of the children. As a single mother she was trying to make everything work while wanting to gain more hours at her part-time job but ended up having to stay with family. The children were sleeping on a thin mattress on the floor in front of the laundry room. Suncoast Voices was not only able to provide beds and bedding for both of the children but also provided a wagon for the family. The wagon enabled mom to walk the kids to the park in order to get outside more, ultimately improving her own mental health and the ability to be more present for her children. If you would like to learn how you could help make a difference in the lives of others, contact us at info@suncoastvoices.org.

Kody was a 10-year young man that has DCF Child Protective Service involvement due to physical abuse. Him and his brother were removed from their home and placed with a relative caregiver. Kody's case manager asked Suncoast Voices for Children if we would provide music lessons as Kody expressed interest in learning to play the violin. He knew that music could be a positive coping skill for his trauma and Suncoast Voices was happy to assist him in getting him what he needed to start his path to self-healing. In checking in on Kody, his caregiver shared "Kody is showing increased confidence and social skills since starting music lessons. He plays music with a local friend that he made those lives near him. He is also practicing the violin at home." Stories like this are why we do what we do. The impact that is made and knowing how that affects long-term growth and success for these youth, is why we know that we have to.

Often times when kids are removed from their homes, they leave with nothing but the clothes that they are wearing. They don't have time to pack a bag, grab any of their favorite belongings or grab the essential items they may need. Volunteers came together to help organize, sort and set up one of our Style Voiced Clothing Closets. These closets are filled with clothing, shoes, toiletries and other personal items so that case managers and child protective investigators can help grab items immediately to help the kids that they are working with.