A ROOM OF HER OWN

The Dare to Dream program offers you the opportunity to serve foster youth ages 11-22 on a one-to-one basis. Based on what is needed, a mentor can serve as an advocate, teacher, guide, role model, valued friend, and general life-coach for the young person with whom they are matched.

Mentors support their matched youth in achieving major milestones, such as budgeting, getting a driver's license, setting post-graduation goals, and housing.

In March 2020, one of our mentors let us know that her mentee, a South County youth in kinship care, had been sleeping on the couch in the family living room for well over a year. Now that school was virtual, she needed her own room to make progress in her studies. As we talked with the mentor and family, it was clear that they knew exactly what they needed. The caregiver was a skilled builder and the youth was more than willing to work; all that was needed was materials.

Olympic Angels put out a call to the building community. G-Little Construction took the lead, and we got out of the way. The needed materials poured in with incredible generosity and speed, and within two months, the family had completely built a sleeping structure for the mentee. During this year like no other, the community came together to ensure this youth could study, sleep, and have her most fundamental needs met.

Her mentor summed it up this way: "To be in a safe home is one thing. But to be in a safe home that also feeds your soul is what we are going for with all these kids."