Independent Living for Young Adults (ILYA) has new graduates that will start their post-secondary education this year. As a program of First Unitarian Church, the success of ILYA graduates who are aging out of the foster care system, is dependent on your support. During normal times, that can be a very challenging transition for students who just aged out of foster care. Many are out on their own, trying to figure out how to succeed in a less structured “adult” world. And this year it’s harder than ever with COVID 19 leading to so many unknowns and restrictions.
Can you imagine being 18, having no family support (or maybe even family members trying to pull you back into a downward spiral)? Having to change your living situation and not knowing if you can find an apartment or if dorms will be open? And then classes start and you’re unsure what the structure will be and if you can succeed or not.
Having a caring person send encouragement periodically makes a big difference. College grads have told us that the Student Care Packages sent to them by ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) volunteers have kept them going when they wanted to quit. Just having that caring and encouragement at exam time or with an upcoming holiday they’ll spend all alone makes a huge difference. That impact can change the course of that student’s life.
If you can send a student a small package 4 times during the academic year, please contact the project leader, Deb Griffin at ILYACarePackages@firstuuwilm.org She will be most grateful for your support. Thank you for your support!