Category Archives: Thank you to our supporters

Kick Dreams United delivers sneakers to Avis Birely!

Thank you to our supporters, ,

On Monday, March 13, Kick Dreams United delivered sneakers to the young men at Avis Birely Group Home!

Kick Dreams United is a nonprofit that collects sneakers and ships them to youth in need around the world as well as in the U.S.

“I truly enjoyed my experience with the young men on Monday! They were very respectful and it was a blessing to be able to visit with them,” said Kick Dreams United Founder and President Tony Hardy. “They seemed really appreciative of the shoes!”

The team from Kick Dreams United personally delivered the donation and told the young men at Avis Birely about their Shining Star program through which youth who show academic improvement get a pair of popular sneakers, as an incentive to do well in school!

Hearts & Homes for Youth and the young men at Avis Birely Group Home are incredibly grateful for the donation!

Students organize drive for Hearts & Homes for Youth!

In the community, Thank you to our supporters, , ,

Hearts & Homes for Youth is grateful to three high school students who rallied support and collected donations for the youth in our care!

Tyrek, DaRae, and Aaron were considering a list of volunteer opportunities for Martin Luther King Jr. Service Day provided by their high schools, but decided to create their own project to directly help others in need.

Tyrek and DaRae attend Wilde Lake High School together, and Tyrek and Aaron have know each other for over ten years; they have played football together since they were six years old, and have become best friends, like brothers. Tyrek’s mother encourages him to seek volunteer opportunities throughout the year and he often encourages his friends to volunteer as well.

The three friends researched shelters and group homes, and came across  Hearts & Homes for Youth. They valued the variety of programs provided and the wide range of counties across Maryland where Hearts & Homes provides services.  The students reached out to learn about our current needs and decided to host a drive for socks and toiletries. The team created their plan, developed roles, and began contacting potential donors.

The entire experience was very fulfilling for the students, in particular, knowing that they were helping children close to their own ages, in need.

Hearts & Homes for Youth and all the youth in our care are grateful for Tyrek, DaRae, and Aaron’s support and all the donations collected!

Share-a-Haircut Results!

Thank you to our supporters,

Thank you to all our supporters who came out in early February to Share-a-Haircut at Hair Cuttery! On February 6th and 7th, thousands of clients visited their salons to help donate haircuts in our communities. As a result, Hair Cuttery will be donating 76,942 free haircut certificates to the homeless and those in need!

Hearts & Homes for Youth has received a number of haircut certificates for the youth in our care to get a fresh look for Spring!

Thank you to Hair Cuttery for partnering with Hearts & Homes for Youth and thank you to all our supporters! #sharingiscaring

Hasan Family hosts Holiday Donation Drive for Hearts & Homes

In the community, Thank you to our supporters

All of us at Hearts & Homes for Youth are grateful to the Hasan family for hosting a Holiday Donation Drive in their neighborhood! The family set up boxes on their porch – one box for new items (including PJ, blankets, socks, underwear, and toys), and another other box for gently used shoes, long sleeve shirts, warm pants, coats. They spread word about the opportunity and neighbors and friends were very supportive!

We are grateful to the Hasan family and all of our supporters for helping make the holiday season very special for all of the youth in our care!

NASA hosts collection drive for Hearts & Homes for Youth

Thank you to our supporters

nasa2Valerie Potter and Kelly Hyde recently led a collection drive at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center for Hearts & Homes for Youth. Employees and their families donated winter coats, blankets, household items, shoes, and much more for Hearts & Homes’ programs!

On a regular basis, staff from the programs are able to pick up needed items. We are grateful for supporters like Valerie and Kelly from NASA for helping us ensure that we are able to provide our residents and programs with everything they need!

Aronson LLC hosts vocational workshops for youth

Activities for the youth, Thank you to our supporters, Volunteering

240_f_96266867_qstweekpzmno31jqqlmrsn4pke9zpgyvEmployees from Aronson LLC came this twice last week to provide vocational workshops for the youth in our care! On Tuesday, the volunteers spent time with youth from our three group homes for girls, helping the girls write their resumes, practice interviewing, and gave them guidance on job searching! On Wednesday, the team from Aronson LLC came to one of our boys’ group homes and provided a vocational workshop to boys from two group homes!

We are so grateful to Aronson LLC employees for giving their time and sharing their talents and skills with the youth in our care, especially during the holiday season! The vocational workshops are an incredible way to help the youth in our care learn about what careers are available, what their interests are, and what skills they have or need to develop.

Aronson LLC shows support to Hearts & Homes throughout the year through donations, fundraising events, and activities. Thank you so much to Hearts & Homes board member Melissa Tarkett for organizing this workshop!

St. John’s College High School student leads donation drive

Thank you to our supporters

kerlin-moralesSt. John’s College High School student Kerlin Morales recently hosted a collection drive at her school for hygiene products, clothes, and nonperishable foods. Hearts & Homes for Youth is one of the local nonprofits that she brought some of the collected items to and we are grateful for her support!

“I work with a non-profit called So What Else,” said Kerlin. “We held a drive for individuals in Haiti who were affected by hurricane Matthew and those in the DMV area. I still had individuals giving me things, which I then I decided to donate to Hearts & Homes for Youth. Hearts & Homes has a lot of the same principles that made me fall in love with So What Else. I really hope to help those at Hearts & Homes during the holidays, to let them know someone cares for them.”

Thank you for your support Kerlin, and thank you to all your schoolmates who supported you!

Thank you Saint Mark Presbyterian Church!

Thank you to our supporters

logoThank you Saint Mark Presbyterian Church for providing Hearts & Homes for Youth with a generous donation! We greatly appreciate the ongoing support your congregation has provided over the years! Your donation goes directly to the programs that serve the youth in our care and enables us to provide academic, recreational, vocational, and other unique experiences to support the healing, growth and development of the youth in our care!

Thank you for supporting our mission to empower youth to build brighter futures!

Gifts from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Thank you to our supporters,

jeans-for-teensThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints recently hosted the Jeans for Teens drive and collected over 400 items of clothing for the children and teens at Hearts & Homes for Youth!

Jeri Tidwell, the leader of a young women’s organization at the Church brought the clothing to our main office where it was organized in the girls and boys closets.

Hearts & Homes for Youth relies on donations of new and gently used clothing from the community to keep our closets fully stocked so when new youth enter our programs, we are able to supply them with a set of clothing. The supply of clothing is also helpful for the children and teens in our care as the weather changes, when events come up, and as they get involved in different jobs and recreational activities.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints collected clothing for Hearts & Homes for Youth last fall. We are grateful to the Church for collecting clothes for us again this year!