Family Makes A House A Home Campaign

THANKS SO MUCH FOR MAKING THE HOLIDAYS BRIGHTER FOR KIDS

YES, I’LL HELP ENSURE YOUTH HAVE STABLE HOUSING & ENOUGH FOOD FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

You can help kids and youth get enough to eat this Christmas and New Year. Help them make a house a home with a gift today.

Our goal is to raise $70,000 by December 31st so we can provide the support that all of the kids in our programs need. We can’t do it without you!

CAMPAIGN THERMOMETER NOW SHOWS FINAL AMOUNT

When you think about the holiday season, what comes to mind for you?

Family gatherings? Holiday parties? Cozy nights in? Cookie or gift exchanges? One important thing in common for all of these special occasions? Good food.

But this year, we’re hearing from our families, and our young people who are out there for the first time trying to make it on their own, that affording food is harder than ever before.

And it’s true! Food prices in Canada have jumped by 10.3 percent from just one year ago and inflation on food items is now at a 40-year high!

Can you help the kids and youth here at the Village, and the young people in our community outreach program who are struggling to make ends meet, get enough to eat during this unprecedented time?

A gift right now can help combat the tragedy of food insecurity and could mean the difference between an empty or full fridge for these kids.

YES, I’LL HELP ENSURE YOUTH HAVE STABLE HOUSING & ENOUGH FOOD

AN APPEAL FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The other thing that makes the holidays bright for most people is the love of family and coming together in the warmth of a happy family home.

But most kids who grow up in the care system, and especially youth once they’ve aged out of care, rarely have a happy home to return to. The sad reality is that many youths are couch surfing, just so they can be close to someone they know, and so they don’t feel quite so alone.

But a couch is not a home, it’s the bare minimum, and these kids deserve to have a home for the holidays. Can you make a gift today so our youth workers can help homeless youth find a real home for the holidays?

Your gift can help make independence feel safer for youth by ensuring we can provide new home welcome kits with all the essentials, teach the youth in our programs how to be healthy roommates and help them nurture a good relationship with their landlord. These things are vital to help youth keep and maintain their home.

As part of the extended Village family, you can give kids and youth a chance to feel the warmth, support, and security most of us are fortunate enough to be blessed with — and show them how family makes a house a home.

Can you help ensure young people aging out of care can access stable housing? Please, if you can, make a gift today.

YES, I’LL HELP ENSURE YOUTH HAVE STABLE HOUSING & ENOUGH FOOD

PLEASE HELP KIDS IN CARE AND YOUTH AGING OUT OF CARE

YES, I’LL HELP ENSURE YOUTH HAVE HOUSING & ENOUGH HEALTHY FOOD

MESSAGES FOR YOU FROM YOUTH IN OUR PROGRAMS

They say it’s better to give than to receive, so I want to give you something at this special time of year – my tremendous gratitude.

Thank you for being part of the SOS Children’s Village BC community!

With the remarkable care and assistance of our donors, kids who have faced the tragic circumstance of being separated from their family get a chance to heal and thrive. At the Village, they receive the love, support, and services needed to set them up for future success as they move towards adulthood.

And in the spirit of sharing gratitude with you today, I wanted you to hear from three youth how grateful they are for the programs you make possible:

“I’m so thankful for the support given to me. SOS BC welcomed me into their community and made me feel at home. Sheena [our youth program manager] helped me from day one, making sure I had everything I needed and making me aware of the resources I have at the Village. She’s continued to be my greatest support especially when it comes to helping me plan out my future, my education, and life in general.”

“You have done so much for me, from planning for post-secondary to learning so many life skills I had no idea about. Whenever I need you, you are always there and I’m so happy to have support that I can rely on.”

“If I did not have SOS BC as a support, I don’t know where I would be. When my social workers were MIA during my time to find housing, I had no idea what to do or who to go to. Simi [our transition to adulthood youth worker] helped me and my sister to find appropriate housing and helped with the moving process. Now my sister and I are living independently in a safe and secure apartment. I’m forever grateful.”

This is the sort of life-changing difference you make for young people during crucial transition points in their lives.

Can you help us be there for more kids by giving a Christmas gift today? You’ll help provide a safety net for vulnerable youth to ensure they don’t fall through the cracks in the system. We’re so glad to be your trusted partner in making the sort of difference you want to see in the world.

As I look ahead to the New Year, I know that, sadly, there will be many more young people who need the sort of caring support you provide for – kids new to the care system trying to adjust, youth on the verge of aging out of care facing an unknown future.

To continue to provide for children and youth in 2023, we need your help. Will you help kids in BC get the support they need to face these challenging transitions, and make a gift before Dec. 31st?

You’ll help young people like Emma, who I think best explained the profound impact supporters like you make for kids when she said:

“If it wasn’t for all the help given to me — I honestly would not be where I am today. It’s investing in future generations and I’m very appreciative of the ongoing supports I have received.”

I firmly believe the future can be brighter for kids in foster care. And at SOS BC we work towards better outcomes for kids every day. Your continued support would mean so much, so if you can, please, make a gift to help support this important work today.

Don’t forget — if you make a gift before Dec. 31st at midnight, you’ll also get a tax receipt for your 2022 tax filing. I know your generosity is not just about tax credits – but every little bit helps, am I right?

YES, I’LL HELP ENSURE YOUTH HAVE HOUSING & ENOUGH HEALTHY FOOD FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

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