The Power of Belonging
“My name is Kemira Solomon. I came to Youth for Christ when I was 17 because I had community service hours to complete. Honestly, at the beginning, I didn’t come all the time. I had a lot going on in my life and sometimes it was hard for me to show up. I became a mom very young and my life has not been easy. I also lost my mom, and that is something that still hurts. Now I live with my aunt and my grandmother, and I am trying to do the best I can for myself and for my baby. Some days are harder than others.
“When Miss Julia found out that I had a baby, she didn’t make me feel bad about my situation. She just said, ‘Kemira, why didn’t you tell me?’ Then she told me about Parent Life and invited me to the community baby shower.
“I didn’t really know what to expect when I went, but I felt so welcomed. People were happy to see me and my baby. They gave me things I need, but what I remember the most is how they made me feel. I didn’t feel judged. I felt loved and cared for.
“I turned 18 while I was doing my hours, but they didn’t stop caring about me just because I was 18 or because my community service was almost finished. Miss Julia kept telling me that I could still come, that Parent Life was there for me and that I was always welcome.
“One day I brought my 16-year-old cousin with me. She is a young mom too and she is not in school right now. As soon as Miss Julia met her she said, ‘you can be part of this too.’ That touched me because I knew exactly what it felt like to need someone to say, ‘There is a place for you here.’
“I came to YFC because I had to complete community service hours. I never thought I would find people who would care about me beyond those hours. My life is still not perfect. I am still learning, still trying, and still figuring things out as a young mom. But having people who believe in me and remind me that I can keep going means more than they probably know.
“YFC started as a place where I had to go.
Now it feels like a place where I know I can come back.”
a community baby shower…
A local pediatric office reached out to YFC with an idea we were happy to make happen! Could they fund a gathering of teen parents in our program? What resulted was a perfect example of “Collaborative Community Strategy” – one of our 5 Essentials of ministry. On a sunny Saturday at the end of July, our teen center was filled with happy babies, even happier moms, and an abundance of generosity as we, together, blessed these young families with essentials to make their heavy load a little lighter. We are so grateful for community partners who share the vision of helping local teens in need.
A message from our Executive Director
Dear Friends,
When the opportunity to partner with Pediatrica was presented our Parent Life Director, Julia, immediately had a vision for something much bigger than a simple gathering. She wanted our community partners and the Christian nonprofits we walk alongside to come and actually meet the young moms we serve, hear their stories, and see the heart behind Parent Life. She also saw it as an opportunity for the Sarasota BNI Business Focus family to experience our mission personally, not just hear her talk about it every week.
From that one idea, everything came together. The response was more than we expected. BNI Business Focus and our community partners donated over $3,000 in gifts and necessities and, even after the Baby Shower, the donations have not stopped. Our office is so full right now that we barely have room to walk! This is one of the most beautiful results of the Baby Shower—people didn’t just come to an event; they connected with our mission and the teen parents who are part of it.
In His Grip,
Mark
Legacy Giving
Did you know that Suncoast Youth for Christ offers FREE estate planning services through the Youth for Christ Foundation? This service works in collaboration with your current CPA or attorney! You can leave a lasting legacy by including Suncoast Youth for Christ in your will or estate plan. Your generous gift will ensure future generations of teens will hear the Truth of the Gospel and experience eternity together with you.