We thank our friends from the DC, Maryland, and Virginia Christian Young Adult Organization (DMV CYA). They brought dinner to the young men in our Avis Birely Therapeutic Group Home. This service was in honor of their founder, Siafa Lavala’s birthday. He was devoted to children by mentoring and uplifting them whenever he could. Dinner included yummy chicken wings, mac & cheese, green beans, and cupcakes for dessert. After dinner everyone walked to the local park where they played a few games of basketball. Back at the program they presented our guys with goodie bags filled with personal care items. We are excited to welcome them back again sometime this summer.
Category Archives: Activities for the youth
Volunteer teaches self-defense to youth
Last night, the girls at Helen Smith Group Home were treated to a self-defense workshop provided by one of our volunteers. The girls and the staff participated. Travis taught them some basic self defense techniques and the girls had a lot of questions!
The workshop started off with some simple ways to avoid confrontation; be the peacemaker, make eye contact, be aware of your surroundings. Then they practiced specific ways to defend oneself in a variety of situations. They learned the basics of how to quickly disable an attacker and escape.
The workshop was invaluable for building the girls’ confidence in themselves and their surroundings, especially by teaching them to be more aware of their surroundings.
We are looking forward to Travis coming back to provide self-defense workshops in the coming months for our young mothers, foster youth, and at a boys’ group home!
Aronson LLC hosts vocational workshops for youth
Employees from Aronson LLC came this twice last week to provide vocational workshops for the youth in our care! On Tuesday, the volunteers spent time with youth from our three group homes for girls, helping the girls write their resumes, practice interviewing, and gave them guidance on job searching! On Wednesday, the team from Aronson LLC came to one of our boys’ group homes and provided a vocational workshop to boys from two group homes!
We are so grateful to Aronson LLC employees for giving their time and sharing their talents and skills with the youth in our care, especially during the holiday season! The vocational workshops are an incredible way to help the youth in our care learn about what careers are available, what their interests are, and what skills they have or need to develop.
Aronson LLC shows support to Hearts & Homes throughout the year through donations, fundraising events, and activities. Thank you so much to Hearts & Homes board member Melissa Tarkett for organizing this workshop!
Junior Woman’s Club of Chevy Chase
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!
A Holiday Party for Damamli/TFC!
Hearts & Homes for Youth recently hosted a holiday party for our young mothers, foster youth, and foster parents!
For the past few years we have hosted our annual holiday party in a private room at Dave & Busters. Our youth look forward to the party because the food is great, the atmosphere is lively, and they get power cards for the arcade section!
This year we had games for the adults while the youth played arcade games, but before we knew it the young people were in the room playing with us! They enjoyed the friendly competition for prizes. The event was a great opportunity to build bonds that will last a life time, adding to the holiday cheer.
The holiday season is often difficult for many of the youth in our care, but our staff, foster parents, and donors put all their effort toward making this event a special opportunity for our young people to have fun, be kids, and create new memories!
Rolyn Companies provides opportunity for Hearts & Homes youth
Thank you Rolyn Companies’ President Mark Futrovsky for inviting youth from Hearts & Homes to come to your office! The young men from our Jumpstart Semi-Independent Living Group Home had a great time getting a tour of your office space and enjoying lunch with your employees from across the country!
The boys enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about Rolyn Companies, ask for advice on job searching, and connect with positive role models!
Thank you for this unique opportunity for the youth in our care!
UMD Delta Sigma Theta Chapter gets involved!
The University of Maryland College Park Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. recently hosted a dinner for the girls in the care of Hearts & Homes for Youth at John C Tracey Group Home.
Four members of the sorority came to the home and cooked stuffed peppers and tacos, and enjoyed dinner with the girls.
Hearts & Homes for Youth is grateful to the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. chapter for spending their time with our girls. They are positive role models in the community.
In early December, the sorority is planning an outing with our girls to a local skating rink, which is sure to be a hit, especially since two of their members are ice skating teachers!
We are also grateful to the sorority for adopting some of our youth’s holiday wish lists and look forward to building an ongoing relationship with chapter!
A trip to the nation’s capital!
Yesterday some of the youth in our care were treated to a tour and bowling at the #ExecutiveBuilding at the #WhiteHouse! Our youth enjoyed the unique and inspiring experience of dressing up, going to DC, and visiting the nation’s capital building! #brighterfutures
Unique experiences like this support our youth’s growth, development, and healing and play an integral role in empowering them to build brighter futures!
JWCCC hosts Election Night “Dialogues”
On Tuesday, the Junior Women’s Club of Chevy Chase hosted an Election Night activity for the girls in our programs as part of their GEMS project. The women cooked a healthy potluck dinner with the girls and had dialogues about the elections and issues that are important to them.
The girls from our programs were put into teams with JWCCC volunteers and listed issues and topics that are important to them such as healthcare, educational support, women’s supportive services, and the value of unique recreational experiences on the weekends. The issues were discussed in small groups and together they brainstormed solutions.
The activity was deliberately called “dialogues” rather than “debates” to encourage the participants to listen to each other, recognize their own and each other’s underlying values and beliefs, and see what they have in common.
Celebrate the Holiday Spirit – Adopt a Wish List!
This holiday season you can make a difference in a child’s life by answering their holiday wish list!
By answering a wish list, you can make a child or teen at Hearts & Homes for Youth feel cared for and supported as they work toward building a brighter future!
To learn more or to sign up to make this holiday season very special for a young person contact Hazel Eguia at 301-679-1283 or heguia@heartsandhomes.org!
Helpful Tips
- Do not feel obligated to fulfill the entire wish list, anything you can get to help the youth in our care will be greatly appreciated!
- Please do not wrap the gifts, but gift bags are greatly appreciated! Please label the items with the child’s name and program name
- If you bundle gifts into boxes or plastic bags, you can use one label for all
- If you are donating gift cards/certificates, please put them in a sealed envelop
- We can arrange a pick up of the gift donations if needed. If delivering gifts, please bring them to:
Hearts & Homes for Youth
3919 National Drive, Suite 400
Burtonsville, MD 20866
- All donations should be received by Thursday, December 15, 2016. If this is not possible, please let us know!