Did you know that the support of the ILYA Program from you, the First U congregation, has assisted young adults as they transition out of foster care and into independent living for the past 16 years?
If you want to learn more about the impact of your gifts, then this Sunday, February 14, is for you! A special message during Stewardship time will share how ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) makes a difference in the lives of youth in our community. Sunday is a chance for you to make a gift to support our yearlong projects as well as an opportunity to learn about some of the ways members of our congregation can become involved through your time, talents and kindness.
While Special Offering Sunday will be different this year, you will still hear first-hand from one of our students, Mayda Berrios, who has benefited from a number of ILYA projects. Another former foster youth, Rashawn King, will be featured for a musical offering. We will be hearing from Mayda and Rashawn online since we are unable to greet them and other youth in church as we have in past years. The service will also include an excerpt reading from the powerful book, Maybe Days: A Book for Children in Foster Care.
Get ready to share your love on Valentine’s Day! ILYA is OUR social justice project. Let’s celebrate it together this Sunday.
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“So many foster kids like me are in similar situations where they don’t have any aid and feel completely alone. ILYA is working to support aged-out foster youth in New Castle County so they can go on to lead better lives no matter where they’ve come from. It fills my heart with joy to know that there are so many people dedicated to helping aged-out foster children. Thank you so much!”
-Ed