And ILYA, the First U social justice program that supports young people aging out of foster care is gearing up. Every year we gift high school graduates with a backpack filled with items they can take to college or use in setting up a new apartment. We also host a graduation pizza party to celebrate their achievement and encourage them as they launch out into the adult world on their own. The feedback we have received from previous graduates has been overwhelmingly positive for this effort.

Now, we need the help of every First U member and friend to show these young people we’re behind them 100%. How??? You can donate cash to buy the backpacks, the “stuffin’s” and pay for the pizza party. Or, if you like to shop, you can purchase a large backpack, a set of bath towels, a folding mesh hamper, or other items we give.

Every Sunday in May, Barbara Perry and other ILYA volunteers will be in the Parish Hall after the service to explain what’s needed and how to donate. Last year we had 32 graduates and hopefully this year we’ll have even more (we’ve seen a steady upward trend in graduates – isn’t that exciting?!) but that means we need more help, too. Let’s go First U and make 2015 a memorable graduation year.