Treating Kids Royally

“Abby was at the woodworking station at camp.  There were different projects the kids could choose to make.  She chose a small jewelry dresser with drawers. While I was helping Abby, she got to the drawer step and wasn’t quite sure how to put it together. I decided to give her an example by saying, ‘It will look like a dresser full of drawers that you put your clothes in.’ Abby turned to me with wide eyes and replied, ‘I don’t have a drawer to put my clothes in.’  I was in shock.  A few days later, we celebrated everyone’s birthday with a huge party including cake, ice cream, and presents. Throughout the week, I asked Abby about what she likes. In these conversations, it seemed extremely important for her to have something that would be her own or something to help her feel like she belonged.  As we went to pick out the birthday gifts, I found a blanket with her favorite colors in it.  It’s amazing how God orchestrates even the small moments. When she opened the gift, she shouted, ‘Is this really mine?!?’  I smiled, ‘Yes, this gift is just for you!’  She hugged it tightly exclaiming, ‘It’s so fluffy!!’ She held it close for the rest of the week.  She finally had something to call her own.”​

Within the foster care system, children often get moved between homes and their possessions (if they have any) don’t always travel with them.  Because of the bouncing around within the system, birthdays of foster children are often missed as well.  Having something to call their own and celebrating their birthday at camp are just two of the ways we strive to treat our campers royally. Thanks to you, Abby was able to build her first set of drawers as well as be celebrated and showered with gifts that she could finally call her own.  At Royal Family Kids Camp, she found a place to belong amongst peers as they all experienced similar hardships.  Will you consider a gift today to make sure local foster kids continue to feel celebrated and loved?