Check here for the latest news and information about ILYA Activities.
Exciting Changes for ILYA
While our mission of serving youth aging out of foster care hasn’t changed in the 16 years ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) has been a social justice program at First U, there have been many changes over the years. New projects like New Apartment Kits and Baby Showers were added. Processes changed to keep ......Read More
ILYA Gets Kudos from DE Division of Family Services
ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) has been serving youth who have aged out of foster care in New Castle County for 16 years. As a social justice program of First U, many volunteers have worked to make this such a successful program. And we couldn’t have done it without the outstanding support of YOU, ......Read More
Furniture and Household Donations for ILYA
With COVID-19 closing the Catholic Charities Thrift Center, ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults), our social justice program serving youth who have aged out of foster care, has had to find other resources. Erik Goodlett, project manager, has established a relationship with the Habitat for Humanity ReStore to help out during this challenging time. While ......Read More
What a Success!
Once again, you have made the ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) Holiday Giving a HUGE success! This means that 39 youth who have aged out of foster care and 10 children are going to know there are people “out there” who care about them and want to give them some holiday cheer. “That means ......Read More
Board Plank
The ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) program, an initiative of First Unitarian Church of Wilmington, is a volunteer run collection of projects that augment the offerings of the state sponsored Independent Living Services. Because of Covid, ILYA asked UU members to contribute to it’s Holiday Giving program to help youth who have aged out ......Read More
ILYA Black Friday
As many people rush to get Black Friday deals early this year, ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) is also rushing to get things together for youth who have aged out of foster care. We will be preparing gifts for each youth including a gift card with which they can purchase something nice for themselves. ......Read More
It’s Holiday Giving Time
In almost every store holiday decorations have appeared. Radio stations are already playing holiday music. And at First U, ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) has kicked off our Holiday Giving project. For those not familiar with this, it’s our way of bringing some holiday cheer to youth who have aged out of foster care. ......Read More
Independent Living for Young Adults Holiday Giving 2020
Several events have made 2020 a tough year for many. Are you looking forward to the season of peace, love and joy, even if celebrated socially distanced or virtually? So are youth who have aged out of foster care and are on their own with little support. But they often have nothing that makes it ......Read More
It’s Holiday Giving Time!
ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) is kicking off our Holiday Giving project this week. You can help us bring some holiday cheer to youth who have aged out of foster care and are now on their own. And in the craziness of 2020, that’s more important than ever. COVID 19 restrictions are making it ......Read More
ILYA Gets Kudos
You may or may not know that as the team that supports young people aging out of foster care, the ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) team meets at least quarterly to make sure our projects are organized and on schedule to be most effective. We were fortunate to have with us when we met ......Read More
You Did It Again!
ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) is happy to announce that First U volunteers have been matched up with all the students asking for Student Care Packages. These young people who have just aged out of foster care are starting their academic and technical education with support… thanks to you! This is a huge support ......Read More
School Days, School Days… Not So Golden Rule Days
In this time of uncertainty, divisiveness and turmoil, we see people reaching out and bridging differences, helping one another and trying to bring peace and joy into everyday experiences. Right now, you have an opportunity to bridge some gaps, help and bring peace and joy into a young person’s life. Through ILYA (Independent Living for ......Read More
What if this is What you Heard?
What if you just aged out of foster care and were a first year student pursuing your higher education and this is what you heard in your head… I’m not sure I can do this. Does anyone really care that I’m scared or struggling? I’m not sure I can keep pushing I’m not confident I ......Read More
Students Need Encouragement… Can You Help?
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 ......Read More
Graduation Party Success!
On July 16th ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) held its first ever virtual graduation party. It was hosted by Amy Barch along with team mates Barbara Crowell and Pauline Koch. Sophia Elliot from the DE Division of Family Services congratulated the grads and invited them to tell everyone where they graduated from and where ......Read More
It’s a Graduation Party!
Would you like to come celebrate and see what ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) is doing for our 2020 graduates who are aging out of foster care? Since we’re going “virtual” this year, we can open the doors to all who would like to come. You’ll get to hear from the youth as well ......Read More
Great Response – Thanks!
ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) thanks those who have supported this year’s Graduation Project. We’ve received many donations and shoppers have volunteered to help us make purchases for the backpacks. In addition, our project leader is enlisting the support of her company to fund laptop computers for the grads! Knowing there are significant uncertainties ......Read More
Backpack Shoppers Needed
It’s time to fill the backpacks that will be given to graduating youth who are aging out of foster care. The ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) team usually does the shopping but this year COVID 19 is interfering. Most team members are in the “at risk” group and so are reluctant to do shopping ......Read More
ILYA Graduation Pandemic Style
What do you do when it’s graduation during the COVID 19 pandemic? CELEBRATE! Yes, ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) is still going to have a celebration for the 28 young people graduating from high school this year who are aging out of foster care. It will be different and maybe even more meaningful given ......Read More
ILYA Graduation Project – COVID 19 Impact
Times are certainly strange with the changed procedures and restrictions resulting from the COVID 19 virus. We hope everyone is safe and healthy and appreciate all the essential workers who are keeping things going for us all including our AV team, office staff and Reverend Pam. But some things haven’t changed and that’s ILYA’s determination ......Read More
A Counselors Reflections About ILYA
ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) recently received a note from one of the Independent Living Coordinators hired by the State of Delaware to provide Independent Living Services to young people aging out of foster care. It’s these coordinators that refer the young people to ILYA for our program’s support. Sue wrote, “Pam [her co-worker] ......Read More
ILYA is Celebrating!
ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) is celebrating 15 years of support for youth aging out of foster care. We want you to celebrate with the team because you are the ones that make it happen with your generous support. If you come to church on Sunday, you’ll get to hear from a young woman ......Read More
ILYA & Stewardship
During the church stewardship campaign, we focus on how we take care of things that are important to us. One great example is the support First U gives ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults). It starts with the volunteers who give their time and talents to make sure the program is addressing the needs of ......Read More
You Did It Again!
Because of the generous support from the First U congregation and friends, it’s another successful Holiday Giving this year. The last minute shopping was done with the help of all the financial contributions you gave. And all the gifts you donated and those we purchased have been wrapped up and are ready for the Independent ......Read More
Only Two Weeks Left
Yikes! There are only 2 weeks left before ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) wraps up the Holiday Giving project for this year… AND WE STILL HAVE QUITE A FEW WISH LISTS NEEDING VOLUNTEERS! A number of people have given cash or checks so we know we’ll be shopping. But we don’t have enough to ......Read More
Only 3 Weeks Til Christmas!!
No, not the official holiday but until the deadline we have to meet to get all of our Holiday Giving wrapped and ready to be packed up and delivered to young people who have aged out of foster care. These young people are out on their own and won’t have much holiday without us. ILYA ......Read More
It’s Holiday Giving Time
In almost every store holiday decorations have appeared. Before long, every radio station will be playing holiday music. And at First U, ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) has kicked off our Holiday Giving project. For those not familiar with this, it’s our way of bringing some holiday cheer to youth who have aged out ......Read More
A Letter Received From an ILYA Youth
ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) received the following letter from one of the youth you have supported through your generous contributions of time and donations. We hope you feel as great about this as we do! To My ILYA Family, I am writing this letter to give my deepest thanks to all members of ......Read More
Thank you, Questers!!!!
A great big THANK YOU from ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) goes out to our 4th, 5th and 6th grade Questers for the fantastic Family Night they held last Friday evening! They made chili, had a caramel apple station and thought up lots of fun games which made for a very special evening. Rounding ......Read More
The ILYA Team Thanks You!
We are delighted to report that we have volunteer matches for all of the fifteen young adults who signed up to participate in the ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) Student Care Package project for this academic year! In fact, we had several MORE volunteers than students! This project matches students who have aged out ......Read More
What a Wonderful Problem to Have!
The First U community is so caring and generous that ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) developed a problem. We received more offers from volunteers to send Student Care Packages to youth who aged out of foster care and are continuing their education than we have students. How can we ever thank you enough for ......Read More
Sending a Package Could be Too Much
For some people who would like to support a student who has aged out of foster care by participating in the student care package project, it’s too much to physically prepare and mail a package. But did you know it can be as easy as putting a gift card in an envelope and mailing it ......Read More
Student Care Package Time
Yes, school is back in session and ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) is kicking off the Student Care Package project for the 2019/2020 academic year. This project offers support to youth who have aged out of foster care and are continuing their post-high school education. Many of these youth are the first generation in ......Read More
Look What You Did!
In checking the ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) mailbox this week, we found the note card below. Rasheen is a student at the University of Delaware who was helped with tuition by a grant from the New Century Club of Newark obtained by ILYA. While this wasn’t money donated by First U, it’s you ......Read More
ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) Went to YAC
A representative group from ILYA attended the YAC (Youth Advisory Council) conference at Delaware State University in Dover last week. This conference organized and run by youth who are in or have aged out of foster care has the tag line “Nothing about us without us”. They advise legislators, social service organizations and others about ......Read More
Congratulations to all!
It happened! The 2019 Graduation Pizza Party was held last week and as you can see in the pictures, below, a great time was had by all. High school grads, college grads, vocational school grads, foster care alumnae, Sophia Cywinksi, manager of the state’s Independent Living Program, Independent Living Coordinators (contracted by the state), and ......Read More
Partnering Extends the Support
Once again the partnering relationship ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) has established with other organizations has expanded our ability to serve youth who have aged out of foster care. For the third year in a row, we have received a grant from the New Century Club of Newark that specifically aids former foster youth ......Read More
We’re Almost There – With Your Help We’ll Make It
ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) is wrapping up the preparation of 25 backpacks filled with items youth aging out of foster care can take with them to a dorm or first apartment. Why? These are gifts that you provide to celebrate their graduating from high school. And celebrate we will! Next month we will ......Read More
Can You Help ILYA Celebrate Graduations?
ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) is working hard to prepare the backpacks we give as gifts to young people graduating from high school and aging out of foster care. They will be distributed at the pizza party we give to celebrate their amazing achievement. “Amazing achievement?” you may be thinking. What’s so amazing about ......Read More
Here Come the Graduates!
ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) is preparing the gift backpacks and arrangements for our Graduation Pizza Party. We have 25 grads this year who have aged out or are aging out of foster care (steadily increasing numbers every year!!). So we’re coming to you for help to make this another successful project. Each backpack ......Read More
A Lenten Gift of Love
Recently the ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) New Apartment Kit (NAK) team learned of a very touching and generous gift they were receiving. A friend of one of our volunteers is a Catholic woman of the old school who felt giving up candy and wine for Lent wasn’t really good enough. So, she purchased ......Read More
New Apartment Kits on Display
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 significant trauma (physical, emotional, sexual ......Read More
What An Amazing Young Woman!
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. She is just 19 years ......Read More
Radical Hospitality on the Heels of Radical Generosity
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 others since to make significant ......Read More
Come Meet the ILYA Youth You Support
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 to us about what the ......Read More
Oh no! No More Baby Showers?!
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 challenges they faced. We started ......Read More
Holiday Cheer for All!
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, to personal care items and ......Read More
Getting Close to the Finish Line
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 aged out of foster care. ......Read More
Holiday Giving Gets a Great Start
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 gives them holiday cheer they ......Read More
Holiday Giving Kicks Off November 4!
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 in the Parish Hall every ......Read More
Who is ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults)?
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 volunteers. Cathy Butler kicked off ......Read More
A Big Thanks to the Questers!
ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) would like to thank the Questers Religious Exploration Group (our 4th, 5th & 6th graders) for the fantastic fun night they held last Friday. It was a fundraiser to benefit the young people aging out of foster care who ILYA services. The games were creative and fun and so ......Read More
Quester Fall Fun Night Fundraiser, Friday, October 12th
Please join us for a Questers’ Fundraiser on Friday, October 12th at 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Our 4th through 6th grade children are planning a fun night to raise money and supplies for ILYA, while enjoying fall games! All ages are welcome. There will be food for sale this night as well, so come hungry. ......Read More
The ILYA Team Thanks You!
We are delighted to report that we have volunteer matches for all of the twenty-one young adults who signed up to participate in the Independent Living for Young Adults (ILYA) Student Care Package for this academic year! The ILYA Student Care Package project matches students who have aged out of foster care and are pursuing ......Read More
Want to Help a Student?
ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) is once again lining up volunteers to help students that have aged out of foster care. These youth who are going on to post-secondary education now have decreased support as they are no longer with a foster family. ILYA volunteers give them the boost that can help them get ......Read More
ILYA Student Care Packages
With September upon us, the ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) team is thrilled to report that we have over twenty students hoping to be matched with caring volunteers willing to send treat packages periodically over the course of the academic year. Are you that caring person or family? If it is something you would ......Read More
ILYA is back to school too!
While many are just starting back to school, ILYA has kicked off our school related activity already. Mid-summer Sue Wilson who has so wonderfully lead the Student Care Package for a number of years handed leadership over to Cathy Butler after doing a great orientation. Cathy picked the ball right up and created new technology ......Read More
Successful Presence at YAC Conference
On August 8th, members of the ILYA team (Independent Living for Young Adults) attended the YAC (Youth Advisory Council) conference at Delaware State University in Dover. Betty Weir and Lori Cowan prepared a wonderful display for our “vendor” table. This is where team members got to talk with many young people in/aging out of foster ......Read More
Youth Advisory Committee Conference
The Delaware Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) is an organization made up of children and youth in foster care or who have aged out of foster care in Delaware. Their tag line is “Nothing about us without us.” They have been consultants to Delaware legislators and non-profit organizations and have been responsible for improving the way ......Read More
18 Months Later
You may remember that in January 2017, ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) gave a baby shower to a young woman who was expecting a baby in March. We are so happy to report what a positive impact this has had on the young Mom’s life. The baby shower allowed Mom and baby to have ......Read More
Memorial to a Brother/Son
Recently a letter was delivered to Independent Living for Young Adults (ILYA) which contained a check from Children & Families First. It was a gift in memory of someone who was an unknown supporter of ILYA but who had apparently informed Children & Families First of his belief in what we are doing for youth ......Read More
A Great Time was had by All
The Independent Living for Young Adults Graduation Backpack and Pizza Party project was a fantastic success again this year thanks to the generous support of the First UU congregation. It turned out that we had 17 graduates who came to the West End Neighborhood House for the party. Amy Barch had to be quick on ......Read More
Letter of Thanks from a Supportive Grant Recipient
ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) provides grants to young people who have aged out of foster care – most often for apartment security or utility deposits. However, other grants are sometimes provided such as one for registration fees for a community service opportunity. In requesting the grant recently, her Independent Living Coordinator wrote, “________ ......Read More
Pomp and Circumstance is Coming Soon!
ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) is gathering the names of graduates for this year and there are many! We’ve secured a location for the pizza party (at no cost) and are collecting sets of towels/facecloths, pop-up hampers and $25 Target gift cards to put in backpacks. As soon as we know final numbers we’ll ......Read More
Backpack to the Future
There’s no going back for the young people graduating high school who now age out of foster care. These students are looking to the future having overcome challenges most of us can’t even imagine. Oftentimes they were shifted through multiple schools adding more instability to the traumatic situations that disrupted their childhoods and put them ......Read More
The Grads are coming! The Grads are coming!
And we need your help to be ready for them. ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) wants to make sure every young person graduating from high school who is also aging out of foster care gets the recognition they deserve for this great achievement. It’s not easy when you’re shifted around to different schools and/or ......Read More
Babies Expected
ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults which is the social justice program at First U supporting young people who have aged out of foster care) is having another baby shower on June 2nd. We’ve collected much of what this young mother is lacking but there are a few things still needed. We are also collecting ......Read More
Partnership and Learning
Last week a group of volunteers who support the Student Care Package project in the ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) program met with some of the Independent Living Coordinators (ILCs) who work closely with the students. For those who don’t know, in Delaware, young people aging out of foster care can elect to have ......Read More
Helping With Moves
Too frequently, young people aging out of foster care have to move abruptly before they have a chance to find an apartment. When that happens, their Independent Living Coordinators often have to physically transport them to emergency housing but sometimes they have to take public transportation. One thing that makes that easier is having a ......Read More
Learning About Supporting Students After Foster Care
For many years ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) has shown support for students continuing their education after aging out of foster care. When volunteers send student “care packages” it not only provides needed or desired items but even more importantly, communicates caring and support. This bit of encouragement may be the only thing that ......Read More
The Power of Partnerships for Independent Living for Young Adults (ILYA)
ILYA’s partnerships with other organizations are some of our strongest programs. One such partnership is with the New Century Club of Newark. We got in touch with this organization to seek a grant for a young woman who spent her teen years in foster care after suffering serious abuse as a child. She was excused ......Read More
Welcoming a New Life
Although we do not have an organizer for Baby Showers at the moment, we are continuing to collect donations to help support expectant mothers. Here is an article from 2018 with a report on one of our baby showers. We hope that we will be able to find a new organizer in the near future. ......Read More
Generosity That Doesn’t Stop
On Sunday, February 11th, many of you met the wonderful young people who visited our church who ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) has supported. You heard the story of one from the pulpit who told you how your support impacted her. She ended her presentation by saying, “Words cannot thank you all for all ......Read More
Special Offering, Sunday, February 11
The offering this Sunday, February 11, will go to ILYA allowing us to continue delivering support to these very deserving youth in your name. We hope everyone will be as generous as they can be. And if you are unable to attend church, feel free to send a check… just put “ILYA Special Collection” on ......Read More
Come Meet Some ILYA Youth
This Sunday is going to bring a special treat for everyone attending church. A number of youth supported by Independent Living for Young Adults (ILYA) will be visiting to tell about their experience with the support given to them by our program. It will be inspirational to see and hear the drive and determination these ......Read More
ILYA – A Social Justice Task Force
Many people at First U know about ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) and provide amazing support for our projects. But we have many newcomers to our church community who may not be familiar with us. And many members may not be aware of the structure in place to foster the success of all our ......Read More
Support for the Youngest Among Us
ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) has supported young people aging out of foster care for 12 years now. Last year, we also supported 2 infants born to young ILYA clients. In February, we’ll have a baby shower for another infant expected later this winter. Our baby showers not only provide some essential equipment and ......Read More
As Promised… Happy Faces
Look at some of the happy faces created by your generosity during ILYA’s (Independent Living for Young Adults) Holiday Giving campaign. These young people (and 30 some others) who have aged out of foster care are having a much better holiday knowing there’s folks out there that care. Thank you for that and for supporting ......Read More
All Wrapped Up
As promised, here are some pictures of your generosity with ILYA’s Holiday Giving project. Carolyn Gibson and her elves spent over 2 days preparing and wrapping the gifts you provided for our young people who have aged out of foster care. The Independent Living Coordinators for ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) have picked up ......Read More
Hope Shared with ILYA
This month the theme for worship is hope. Reverend Roberta talked about how hope is communicated and how it grows when it’s shared. ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) has experienced such an outpouring of hope for our young people who have aged out of foster care that there are hardly words to express our ......Read More
It’s gotten cold outside…
But this holiday season you have the opportunity to create a very warm feeling for a young person who has aged out of foster care. Please sign up to help ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) with their Holiday Giving project. It works like this… Young people who have aged out of foster care and ......Read More
The Warmest Holiday Season Yet!
As you may know from reading our recent articles, ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) had more young people who have aged out of foster care submitting “wish lists” for Holiday Giving than any previous year. We were worried initially because that’s a lot of wishes to address but you all have come through once ......Read More
Only 2 Weeks Til Christmas!!
No, not the official holiday but the deadline we have to get all of our ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) Holiday Giving wrapped and delivered to young people who have aged out of foster care. These young people are out on their own and won’t have much of a holiday without us. ILYA has ......Read More
Last Minute Notification Came In
ILYA (Independent Living for Young Adults) got a last minute notification that 2 additional students are requesting Student Care Packages. So we’re looking for 2 more volunteers willing to send small packages to a student 5 times during the school year. These students are seeking the emotional support of someone reaching out more than the ......Read More