Volunteers Who Change Foster Kids Lives
May is Foster Care Awareness Month and local Little Italy resident, Judi Sinopoli, has become very active in bringing happiness to siblings separated in the foster system. Promises2Kids,
a local nonprofit organization, provides support to over 3,000 current and former foster youth in San Diego County with the tools, opportunities, and guidance they need to address the circumstances that brought them into foster care.
Sinopli was introduced to the organization in 2016 and instantly signed up to become a volunteer for foster youth. She didn’t know anything about foster youth prior and was touched by the organization’s Camp Connect program, which reunites siblings who have been separated in the foster system through a fun and immersive camp. Sinopoli has volunteered at several camps and various Promises2Kids’ events throughout the years.
She offered that during her time volunteering for Camp Connect that she has worked with hundreds of children who have needed the kind and caring effort of volunteers who share in their lives.
Knowing the abuse and neglect these children have experienced, they build emotional walls which takes time to remove. They fear sharing because of the hurt they have experienced.
Sinopoli said that Promise2Kids needs over a hundred volunteers for their three-day camp, which takes place in August. She shared that in giving of her time to the foster youth, she has received immense joy and enjoyment seeing the faces of the children playing and having a good time with their siblings and the volunteers.
“You become a part of their family by assisting them as they overcome the difficulties of their past, and grow into healthy, happy and successful adults,” offered Sinopoli.
She also commented that this isn’t a short-term commitment. That’s because these children need to know that the volunteers who come into their lives are there to help them to develop trust and emotional strength.
Since 1981, Promises2Kids has responded to the needs of foster children and provided support to children removed from their home due to abuse and neglect. Promises2Kids, whose mission is to create a brighter future for foster childen, supports these children through four programs: Polinsky Children’s Center, Camp Connect, Guardian Scholars and Foster Funds. To learn more about the volunteer opportunities, visit www.promises2kids.org.
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