How You Can Help: Giving Gifts

See how a few of the volunteers at Wedgwood are providing some of the best gifts to our youth!

 Amy*, age 31, was a client in Wedgwood’s residential program about 14 years ago.  She came from a very difficult history of sexual abuse with both parents being alcoholic.  Amy recently called Wedgwood to ask if she could be helpful to a child in the same way that she helped while here. After a through assessment of her life since leaving Wedgwood, we felt comfortable in allowing her to be a Mentor to one of the girls in the same home in which she has lived!  Amy has three children of her own and has become a Christian.  She lived through a time of having “no hope” and then realized that she “needed God”.  She attends a church and is eager to offer the stability to her family that she experienced at Wedgwood.

Amy is matched with a girl who is in sixth grade and needs a role model to make her feel special.  During one of their first visits together Amy has reported the girl is opening up more.  “We talk about her school performance and I encourage her to be more positive.”  Wedgwood’s investment in a resident’s life 14 years ago is now being repeated for another Wedgwood child!

A local firefighter and EMT came to Wedgwood two times to respond to a medical call in one of our residential homes.  Keith*, age 24, felt a strong desire to become a mentor to one of the youth that needed a positive role model in their life.  He has been matched with a 14-year-old boy whose parental rights have been terminated.  The child has no family or friends to visit him and has been feeling alone and depressed.  This child has needed a mentor who can be viewed as family and who can help him with his school work.  Keith has jumped in and eagerly taken on this challenge.  The child is delighted with the relationship.  After three weeks they have had several encouraging visits with one another.

Roger*, age 56, has been a mentor for a 16-year-old boy for six months.  During Wedgwood’s WJQ radio fundraiser in Zeeland, Roger was listening to music while driving his truck.  His heart was moved by hearing the histories of the youth at Wedgwood.  He was challenged to take a child under his wings.  Roger is already a very busy man with seven children and twenty grandchildren!  He has been willing to spend time with a child during one evening a week.  Roger has given his life o the Lord and wants to reach out to a child in need.  God truly spoke to Roger while listening to the radio and Roger has been obedient to the Spirit’s leading.  As a result, a Wedgwood child is being blessed!

Bill, a recently married principal, called Wedgwood a few months ago to offer being a mentor.  Little did he know how life changing this decision would be to his family and to a child at Wedgwood!  He was matched with a boy who really wanted and needed a mentor.  They spent time together this past summer, involving many weekends and time during the week.  After many prayers Bill and his wife felt led to have this child move into their home. Recently, they have become official foster parents!  This fall the child was enrolled in the school system near their home and he is doing well in school.  The family clearly believes that God has placed this child in their home.  IT became apparent to Bill’s family that taking this child into their home was something they needed and wanted to do…a great relationship is being fostered.

* Names and identifying features have been changed to protect privacy.

Thank you for considering a gift of time to Wedgwood! To learn more contact Molly Guillaume at 616.831.5565.

“Sing to God,

sing praise to His name…

His name is the Lord –

and rejoice before Him.

A father to the fatherless,

a defender to widows,

is God in His holy dwelling. 

God sets the lonely in families,

He leads forth the prisoners

with singing.” 

                             -Psalm 68: 4-6