A Hard Road Ahead

Have you ever caught yourself wondering, “What happens after the match?”

This past week, I had the chance to hear that answer firsthand from a former LoveBox volunteer, and something she shared echoed in my head for days:

“She’s got a hard road ahead of her. I can’t change that. But I can give her the tools to help herself.”

Years have passed since they were first matched, and they’re still deeply connected - walking through life side by side, season after season. They didn’t “age out” of love. In fact, right now, in this very season, they’re spending hours together - making plans for driving lessons, setting goals, and moving forward one step at a time.

One thing she shared that really struck me was this:
“Olympic Angels leveled the playing field a bit.”

It’s easy to move through life assuming we all start from the same place and head toward the same finish line. But the reality is, we don’t. Our foster care community shows us just how much tenacity it takes to reach that finish line alongside peers. This volunteer continues to show up. And this young person is working hard - really hard - toward her goals.

Each year, between 15,000 and 20,000 youth age out of foster care without a permanent family connection. Now imagine turning 18 and stepping into adulthood completely alone. This is the harsh reality many young people face when they age out of the system - without someone to lean on for support, guidance, or belonging.

But this youth won’t have that experience.

This is what it’s all about.

Not just the big moments. Not just the milestones. But the days in between. The hours spent after the “match” is technically over- listening, supporting, planning, and loving. It’s about setting our heavy hearts down for a moment and recognizing that this outcome is better than it very well could have been… and that the story isn’t over yet.