Happy May!
Wednesday's Woman is back with an inspiring story by regular contributor, Anna Mahler, who writes at The Mommy Padawan. What I like most about the woman Anna has chosen to honor is that she has made it easy for us to be of service to children in need. We do not need to leave the comfort of our homes to make a difference in the lives of children who have been the victims of abuse and neglect. So, no excuses!
Wednesday's Woman: Giving Children Hope
Opening your home and heart to foster a child can be such a
kind and beautiful act. Foster parents who provide safe, loving and stable
environments have real impact and can change a child’s life for the better.
Often, these children are or have been lacking many of the bare necessities we
sometimes take for granted so when other needs arise, like needing a nice
outfit or being able to go on a special outing, it can feel hopeless and not
even worth asking for.
After recognizing these needs and wanting to do something
about them, today children in the foster care system have a new way to ask for
things they need and all of us, even those who are not foster parents, have a
way to help.
Danielle Gletow and her husband Joe have been foster parents
since 2006. After hearing friends and family express that they would like to
help children separated from their families as well, Danielle wanted to find a
way for people to connect with the needs of these children.
"(They) would say, 'I really wish there was something I could do, but I don't want to be a foster parent,' " Gletow said. "I just felt like, this is my opportunity to create something that makes it possible for all of these children who need something to get connected to all of these wonderful people that are out there, that want to help them."
This was the inspiration for, One Simple Wish. Wishes are submitted and approved for kids by
social service agencies and caseworkers all over the country. Some of the
wishes I read range from a child aging out of the system in need of bedding for
his college dorm room, a new bike for a 4 year old girl who loves to play
outside, a photography class for a budding artist, a gift card for clothing for
a 12 y/o in the care of her grandma and another was simply asking for new shoes
for school.
So many of the wishes are basic things I would not even
think twice about providing for my own child but for children who may not have
an adult in their life they can even go to and ask, it's the little things that
mean so much. For many, they have felt let down so many times, they don't feel
their voices will be heard so it's not even worth wishing or asking anymore.
"Anybody -- anywhere, anytime -- can go on our website,and they can look at hundreds of wishes that are posted on behalf of children in foster care and children in vulnerable family environments," Gletow said. "These small things make an enormous difference in the life of a child who has spent their entire life wondering if anybody cares about them."
Along with One Simple Wish, Danielle Gletow's nonprofit
office is home to two other projects that also benefit foster youths and
families in New Jersey.
The Ohana Project helps foster kids, foster-care workers
and families by providing 24/7 access to items that can ease a child's
transition into a new placement or home like new baby supplies, bed linens,
blankets, pajamas and other items.
The Wish to Work program assists older children get the
skills needed in professional careers.
They provide job-training
seminars, networking events, résumé feedback and other assistance.
It can take so little to make a difference in a child's
life, to give them hope, let them know they are being heard and that someone
cares about them. With One Simple Wish, Danielle does all this and more along
with allowing all of us the opportunity to make a positive impact as well.
Danielle Gletow is nominated as a 2013 CNN Hero. You can
learn more about her and wonderful ways to help a child at OneSimpleWish.org.
WEDNESDAY'S WOMAN IS A WEEKLY FEATURE DEDICATED TO SPOTLIGHTING WOMEN WHO ARE ROLE MODELS FOR OUR DAUGHTERS. . . AND THE WORLD.
photo credit: ecstaticist via photopin cc
amazing- and it shows there is still so much to be done. thanks for sharing!
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