With so many new members in our congregation who may not know about ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) here’s a little overview. For 13 years this social justice program has provided support to young people who age out of foster care in New Castle County. They have often experienced...

It’s not only seniors that are anxiously and excitedly thinking about the upcoming graduation season. ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) has already started planning for our 2019 Graduation Backpack and Pizza Party. As for many years in the past, we are preparing gift backpacks filled with items the graduate...

At the service on February 10, Sammon, a young woman who had aged out of foster care at age 18 and to whom ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) has been giving support, told her story. She told us how she overcame significant trauma to start moving toward her goals....

First Unitarian Church of Wilmington is the birthplace of the Independent Living for Young Adults (ILYA) social justice program. Since its beginnings, members and friends of the church have been very generous supporters allowing early volunteers like Betty Wier, Barbara Crowell, Barbara Perry, J. Harry Feldman, Henrietta McKelvey and many...

On Sunday, February 10th, some of the youth supported by ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) will be our guests participating in the service. One young woman will be sharing her experiences and Sophia Cywinski from the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families will also speak...

About 2 years ago ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) started a project to offer support to young women who had aged out of foster care at age 18 and found themselves pregnant. We wanted them to feel valued and supported knowing that another life to manage significantly increased the...

The 2018 ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) Holiday Giving project was a huge success thanks to the members and friends of First U! Together we fulfilled every list including one that asked for a welding machine. The requests ran the gamut from big equipment and a lap top computer,...

With the help of many volunteers who have already taken wish lists or donated to the Holiday Giving Project, ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) is getting closer to the finish line. But we still need some help to make it a cheerful holiday for our young people who have...

What a great kick-off we had for the ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) Holiday Giving Project! Many wish lists submitted by the young people who have aged out of foster care were taken by generous volunteers. Shopping for the items these deserving youth wish for is so satisfying and...

ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) is starting our Holiday Giving project and we hope you’ll join us to make another great holiday for young people who have aged out of foster care. For those who aren’t familiar, wish lists are created by these young adults, and will be posted...

First and foremost, ILYA is YOU! You support the team through donations of time and money. ILYA started supporting young people aging out of foster care over 13 years ago and First UU has never faltered. But how it gets done is through the work of a team of dedicated...