Stories of summer at Shepherd are just the beginning of a future free from poverty!
Summer should be a time of fun, laughter, and adventure for children and their families. But for a child living in poverty, summer can exasperate the challenges and instability they feel all year long: hunger, safe care, learning regression, and loneliness.
Shepherd is the summer adventure our neighborhood kids long for. At Shepherd, over 200 neighborhood kids ages K-12 can spend the summer living an adventure that will impact, grow, and change them all year long. Students at all levels experience physical, emotional, spiritual, and academic support, transformation, and fun.
The impact of our summer programming changes the trajectory of our students’ lives. Shepherd helps our students grow capacity and reduce dependency for the entire school year and life. Stories of summer – like these – change everything.
Ezekiel: Just one month before he came to Summer EXCEL, Ezekiel witnessed a drive-by shooting in his living room that killed his father. But through consistent relationships at Shepherd, Ezekiel was able to be himself again, laughing and smiling every day, knowing he was safe and loved at Shepherd.
Layla: At the beginning of Summer YLIFe, a young man bullied Layla, pushing her to the brink of suicide. We surrounded Layla with support and a safe place to talk through her feelings. Several weeks later, we had the students pick someone in the group to say something positive to. When it was Layla’s turn, she pointed to the boy who bullied her, and with tears in her eyes, she said, “Thank you for helping me find my voice.” Layla went from depressed and suicidal to speaking up and being a confident young lady!
James: When James’ house burnt down, he believed it was all his fault because he fell asleep after putting his clothing in the dryer. The pressure of being the “man of the house” weighed heavily on James, isolating him from his peers and the life he deserved. At Shepherd’s Summer YLIFe, James was free to be just a kid. He wasn’t watching his siblings or working to rebuild their home. The connection we built with James makes him feel safe, supported, loved, and hopeful for a future for himself. James went from being a quiet loner to all smiles and living free to dream.
You can help stories of summer continue all year long. You can impact our neighborhood children and families by providing the adventures of summer – fun, safety, stability, learning, growth, and so much more – all year long at Shepherd Community Center. Stories of summer at Shepherd are just the beginning of a future free from poverty. So, won’t you join us to make stories of summer continue all year long?
Use the button below to donate through PayPal:
