Recently a young professional in the community came to our Kemp Mill Group Home where he plans to come every weekend to mentor the young men there. Some of the young men spoke with us about the impact the volunteer is having on their attitudes and goals. The young men said:
“I appreciate him coming to the home, I like him. He talks to us about a lot of stuff like his work and his experiences. He talked to us about stuff we don’t even know about like how to build a career in his field and the different departments. He talked to us about how to act when you want to get a job and how to work on our anger. He talked to us about how we act toward certain things. He talked to us about how to be independent. He’s got faith in us. He made us feel like we could do anything. He gave us confidence. He said he sees a lot of potential in me. He’s funny and his stories are interesting.”
“In a group there’s always one leader who makes people feel great, good, safe, cared for. He’s like a leader. Everybody listens to him. He’s got my respect. He puts effort in. I can tell when people care and I can tell he cares. He answers all our questions. He doesn’t get mad. I feel like he understands me, even though he’s not in my shoes, I feel like he understands me.”
“He influenced us to do better. Like the way he talked to us, it doesn’t seem like we should be in this predicament. He knows we could be doing better and we shouldn’t be doing the stuff we’re doing now. I look up to him like my big brother that passed away. I like when he comes, he makes you feel at home.”
Volunteers, mentors, and tutors can have an immeasurable impact on the youth in our care. If you are interested in mentoring or tutoring, contact Caitlin Ward at cward@heartsandhomes.org
Are you interested in getting involved and giving back? Below we have listed a number of ways you can get involved and support the young people at Hearts & Homes for Youth. If you are interested in any of these opportunities, contact Caitlin Ward, 
This morning Leadership Montgomery 2017 Core Class came to Hearts & Homes for Youth Avis Birely Group Home to spruce it up with a new coat of paint!
The following was shared with us by a young woman who was previously in our foster care program. She highlights the impact her foster mother and Hearts & Homes for Youth had on her healing and growth. 
Valerie Potter and Kelly Hyde recently led a collection drive at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center for Hearts & Homes for Youth. Employees and their families donated winter coats, blankets, household items, shoes, and much more for Hearts & Homes’ programs!
Employees from 
St. John’s College High School student Kerlin Morales recently hosted a collection drive at her school for hygiene products, clothes, and nonperishable foods. Hearts & Homes for Youth is one of the local nonprofits that she brought some of the collected items to and we are grateful for her support!
Thank you Junior Woman’s Club of Chevy Chase for making the holidays brighter for our girls at Helen Smith Group Home! The JWCCC collected holiday gifts for the girls and recently hosted a holiday packing party! In addition to the holiday treats, the JWCCC took the girls caroling at a local nursing home to spread holiday cheer!