“The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children.” -Dietrich Bonhoeffer
When I consider the opportunities I was given growing up and that my children have had, it breaks my heart to know that right here in Malibu and surrounding communities we have parentless, homeless, disadvantaged children who need our help. As a volunteer for Safety Harbor Kids (SHK), I have seen first hand the difference that SHK is making in the lives of these kids. Founder John Williams was once a homeless, parentless teen in Malibu himself. Now a successful businessman, he and his wife Petrie founded Safety Harbor Kids to provide a support system for local children living in the foster care system.
The kids that SHK serve typically have been abused and/or neglected. Many of them live in group homes run by staff and are expected to go out into the world on their own when they turn 18. I recently met one such young man, Giovanni, who dreams of becoming an architect and had been taking architectural classes at a community college. Then he “aged out” of the system and had to scramble to find a place to live and a way to support himself. This is a critical juncture for him. If he gets support (i.e.: a paid internship and some training), he can continue on an upward trajectory. If not, he’ll have to take a menial, dead-end job just to survive. SHK is working with foster children in the 10-17 age range to give them training, support and options for when they turn 18.
Please join us as a volunteer or contributor. Consider bringing your children and teens to the SHK events to help others and also to gain an appreciation for what they’ve been given. SHK has many programs to enrich the lives of our local at-risk kids in the foster care system and offers a safety net to keep them from falling through the cracks. For more information, please visit www.safetyharborkids.org.
Cynthia Randall, Safety Harbor Kids Volunteer