HOLLYGROVE UPDATE
December 2006
Dearest Friends of Hollygrove,
Once again it's the season of holidays
and parties, of exchanging presents and enjoying our families
and friends. I think we're all looking forward to relaxing,
indulging a little, and celebrating a brand new year.
But imagine for a moment, what it's
like to be a young child without family. No brothers or
sisters, mom or dad to hug and kiss. No holiday traditions.
Nobody to notice how much you've grown, or tell you how
much you look like a certain cousin, aunt, or uncle.
Astonishingly, most children Hollygrove
serves have little or not contact with their families, or
may not know there's anyone out there that still cares.
We're doing what we can to ensure
that the kids and families we serve have a joyous season
- like our annual holiday brunch for foster families where
Santa Claus stops by with presents for all the children.
But reconnecting kids to their families
is the greatest gift of all. Our Healthy Family Finding
program can give children that doesn't come wrapped in shiny
paper: a loving relationship with family members.
Recently, our Family Finding staff
located a mother who hadn't seen her daughter since a violent
domestic dispute divided the family eight years ago. They
asked her to write a few words.
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My dearest Amelia,
I want you to know that
I have always raised you in my heart, despite our
time away from each other. I just hope that you can
forgive me for not being with you all these years.
Not a day has gone by that I have't thought about
you and hoped that you were happy. I prayed that we
would be runited someday and that you were being cared
for and loved. It hurt me that I couldn't be the one
to raise you but I never stopped worrying about you.
Please know that I will ever tire of asking your forgiveness,
my darling. I cannot wait for you to meet your little
sister. The happiest day of my life was when I learned
that you were searching for me. My prayers have been
answered. Please know that I will do everything to
make sure that we will never again feel this emptiness
in our hearts.
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Join us this holiday
season in helping Amelia and others put their lives back
together. Reconnecting children who once felt alone and
abandoned is just one way we are helping families at Hollygrove.
We hope we can count on your support to keep children
safe at home, safe in school, and out of harm's way this
holiday season and beyond
Wishing you peace
in the coming year,
Executive Director Hollygrove
www.hollygrove.org
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