The power of giving—even when you don’t have much to give

Note: The following note was sent to YouthLink by a representative of a local company that galvanized its staff to give clothes, toys, and other items to YouthLink youth last holiday season. This personal account highlights the effect giving back can have—not only on the people receiving the gifts, but those giving the as well.

I wanted to write a few words about the staff at Meritain who are participating, and I hope you will share this with the kids at YouthLink who are receiving these gifts. I have been as touched by the stories of the people I work with who are participating as I am by the stories of the youth you work with.

• One staff member got her adoptee gifts immediately, and was at my desk with tears in her eyes because she was on the streets for 3 years when she was young, and she knows exactly how it feels. She’s now a leader in her department, and has a wonderful life – but it was hard getting where she is now.
• Another staff member tells me he’s estranged from his adult son and he’s giving what would have been spent on his own child to a client at YouthLink.
• Staff who have been foster parents are shocked to hear about kids who have “aged” out and been abandoned.
• I heard a story from a staff member whose son died at 22, and had his own troubled history before he died. She gives her gift to honor his memory.
• There is a staff member who adopted her own grandson when her teenage daughter decided she wasn’t ready for that responsibility yet.
• One staff member was so touched that she shopped for her “adoptee” until her husband reminded her that they don’t have much themselves. (Her mother-in-law added something to the gift bag too-the whole family was giving)
• Staff that are supporting unemployed family members and living on pretty tight budgets are giving what they can by adopting a youth on the department level.
• A number of staff have told me they did this shopping before shopping for their own family, others have gotten the whole family involved. One staff member told her grandchildren that this year each one of them is getting one less gift so homeless youth can get one, thus training them to be generous.

There was so much enthusiasm that went into the gift buying by our staff. A lot of thought went into choosing the items YouthLink kids are receiving. It’s not just people with too much money trying to feel a little better by giving to poor folks. Rather, we feel that it behooves us to step up where other adults have abdicated the parenting and support role.

We are real people with real lives, and real histories that are sharing because we want the world to look a little brighter and feel a little warmer.

From potential dropout to college student

Note: The following post was written by a YouthLink case manager about “Albert”, a kid who clearly made the best of a very tough situation.

“Albert” was referred to YouthLink by his school social worker. He had periods of homelessness and is currently living in a supportive housing program in St. Paul. He currently attends Minneapolis Henry High School.

Because of his homelessness, Albert was too far behind to graduate on time with his class. Albert is very bright and participates on the schools robotics team in local and regional competitions. Through counseling with his school social worker and teachers, Albert decided to pursue his GED instead of a diploma.  Through some connections with the robotics team, he applied for a scholarship to Itasca Community College and was accepted with funding for his tuition, books and housing!

Albert is now attending college as of last Fall. A fantastic YouthLink success story!