June 19, 2018

One of the most important things Mercy Home provides to the children entrusted to our care is stability. And, of course, stability comes in many forms. Some kids don’t know which relative or friend they will be staying with next, because they have been passed off by parents who can’t or won’t take care of them. Others don’t know if there will be food on the table or even heat or lights when they get home. And sometimes our kids don’t even recognize things could be any different, because they’ve never known anything else.

This was the situation Mia was in when she arrived at Mercy Home. Her family never had much money. Growing up, she was used to going without things—new clothes, school supplies, even meals sometimes. She didn’t even mind having to sleep in her jacket when her mom couldn’t afford to turn on the heat.

For a long time, this just seemed normal to Mia. With her father out of the picture, her mother always struggled to make ends meet. And growing up in a poor neighborhood meant that everyone around her was in a similar position. Mia really wasn’t even aware that life could be any different.

But everything changed when Mia’s mom lost her job. If money had been tight before, it was nonexistent now. All too often, she would come home from school and find the pantry empty. This wasn’t like before when she and her mother would have a few lean days between paychecks—there was very rarely food in the house. And even though it was the coldest part of the year, the heat was always shut off in the apartment.

Mia’s mom was so depressed about losing her job that she could barely get out of bed. She just didn’t seem to have the energy to take care of Mia anymore. It was very hard for her to see her mother so upset, but she didn’t know how to possibly make her feel better. The stress of the situation was beginning to take a toll on Mia.

Once an above-average student, Mia’s grades plummeted. She stopped doing her homework entirely. What was going on at home weighed so heavily on her mind that she found it impossible to think about anything else.

Mia’s teacher became concerned about the sudden change in her behavior. When she held Mia behind one day, the entire story of what was going on at home came out.

Mia’s teacher knew she had to figure out a way to help, and immediately thought of Mercy Home. She told Mia that it was a place where she never had to worry about whether it would be warm throughout the winter, or that there would be enough food to eat. Instead, Mia could simply focus on the things a kid should be focused on, like school. There was no question in Mia’s mind—she wanted to move in right away!

Thank you for all you do for kids like Mia! Your friendship helps them believe in themselves and become more confident in their unique gifts. Your support is priceless to them!

A special partnership for the sake of Mercy’s kids and for our televised Sunday Mass

You can make a difference in the life of a troubled child. Fr. Scott needs Partners to pray for our kids at Mercy Home–and also faithful Partners to help broadcast Sunday Mass at Mercy Home.

By pledging your support and your prayers, you’re offering a precious gift to Mercy’s kids–and helping our community of faith join together every week.

The boys and girls of Mercy Home are very proud of the difference they are able to make just by sharing their time and heart with others. None of this would be possible without our kind, faithful supporters, for not only sharing their friendship but for also setting an example of generosity and compassion for them to follow. During this month, please keep the young people of Mercy Home and all of our generous benefactors in your thoughts and prayers.