Service Day 2022: Known partners with Together We Rise to better the lives of foster children
In 2008, Danny Mendoza discovered that his 9-year-old cousin was living in a car. Overcome by the desire to help youth living in similar situations, he began sharing his vision for Together We Rise. Since then, Danny has grown his nonprofit into a nationwide organization, improving the lives of over 650,000 youth in foster care.
Leaning into our value “We See the Good,” Known places empathy and kindness at the heart of everything we do. Inspired by the mission and service projects offered by Together We Rise, Known welcomed the organization’s Event Coordinator, Melissa Zendejas, to facilitate a session for Knowners to work together on some virtual service projects.
One Team Helping 200 Lives
Over 200 Knowners signed up to make sure these children in foster care feel seen and supported, dedicating their afternoon to work with Together We Rise on this virtual project. Melissa kicked off Known’s service day by sharing the many ways the organization partners with others to bring resources to foster youth and use service-learning activities to educate volunteers about the foster care system. Knowners elected to create one of three kits for foster children: Sweet Cases, Superhero Boxes, or STEM Kits.
When kids enter the foster care system, they typically receive a black trash bag for their belongings. To help them feel a greater sense of dignity, Knowners decorated Sweet Case panels with fun, inspiring imagery to be added to duffel bags for the children. Knowing that kids in foster care suffer from PTSD twice as much as US war veterans, Together We Rise wanted to create a “mental health box.” Superhero Boxes remind foster kids that no matter their circumstances, anyone can always be super. Lastly, the nonprofit developed STEM Kits to provide access to resources that oftentimes are not offered in schools in lower income communities, which many foster youth live in. These kits help give these children the same opportunities as their peers.
Melissa’s Personal Connection with Foster Care
While Knowners worked on their virtual service projects, Melissa shared how she was exposed to the foster care system: “I have a little brother whose name is Gavin. He just turned 12 in December, and he is adopted through the foster care system.” Gavin joined her family when he was only 6 months old, and had been in and out of her family’s home for the next few years. When Gavin turned 3, the court had made the adoption official, and he had found his permanent home with Melissa’s family.
“We didn’t realize that first time he was in our home that he was going to stay as long as he did, but we’re forever grateful that he did and that we’re able to be a part of his story,” said Melissa. “He’s the extra part of our family that we didn’t realize we were missing for so long.”
How You Can Help
Including the Knowners who participated in this service project, Together We Rise has more than 339,000 engaged volunteers who have impacted the lives of over 650,000 children. The organization’s programs are growing and expanding, now offering many more ways in which anyone can support these children.
Melissa adds, “I do what I do because of that little boy that I get to hang out with every single day, knowing that there’s a bunch of Gavins still in the world that are in that same system he was in.” These acts of kindness which may seem small, in reality make a world of difference. “I don’t say this lightly at all. These activities are saving these kids’ lives. It’s showing them that someone out there is caring for them and looking out for them.”
To find out more about Together We Rise and the many ways in which you can help children in foster care, click here.
