Tag Archives: help children in virginia

Shelley Callahan | En Español

We are excited to introduce a new staff member to our team, Katie Thomson, who is coming on board as our Community Engagement Coordinator. As a way to get to know Katie a little better, we asked her a few questions about herself, her career, and her passion working to help children and families living in poverty.

CI: Tell us a little about your background.

KT: I was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia and attended Virginia Commonwealth University, where I received both my BSW and MSW degrees.

“Giving children a sense of hope can lower stress and anxiety while increasing happiness, and to me that is priceless.”

After graduate school, I moved to London and worked with children and families for five years. My husband and I moved back to Richmond in 2014 so my daughter could grow up near my family.

In addition to my work with Children Incorporated, I work with Make Space, a mentoring program through the Visual Arts Center, which pairs women in the community with sixth-grade girls at Anna Julia Episcopal School in the East End. I really love working with sixth graders; they have such fun personalities and have so many opinions, which I think is fantastic.

CI: What made you want to get involved in social work so many years ago?

 KT: I’ve always had a passion for helping people. It is probably the only passion that has consistently stayed with me throughout my life. Many of my family members work in helping professions like teaching, social work, and nursing, which influenced me to become a social worker.

I also like that social work isn’t one type of job; when people think of social work, they usually think it is placing children into foster care, but we do many different things and work in many different systems. We work directly with clients, but then also work on program design and implementation. There are social workers who are politicians, lawyers, epidemiologists, teachers, etc. There is such variety and potential that I’ll never be bored in this field!

CI: What really drew you to Children Incorporated’s mission?

Katie brings years of experience working with children and families in need to Children Incorporated, and we are so thrilled to have her on our team!

KT: What drew me to the Children Incorporated mission was the idea of giving hope and opportunity to children. While no one individual can change the economic situation totally for these children’s families, we can help by providing children with basic necessities so they can go to school and not be worried about when the next meal will be or how they will get a new winter coat or shoes. Giving children a sense of hope can lower stress and anxiety while increasing happiness, and to me that is priceless.

CI: What about your professional experience makes you a good fit for Children Incorporated?

KT: I have worked in Richmond for many years and have built relationships with people throughout the city. I also enjoy meeting and connecting with people. I value the people and communities Children Incorporated works with, and I am excited to share their mission. I believe there is great opportunity for Children Incorporated to collaborate with Richmond people and businesses to support local children.

CI: What are your interests outside of helping children around the world?

KT: I like to spend time with my husband and our 10-year-old daughter. I say that I enjoy gardening, but I actually like to watch reality TV. I’m a bit of a collector, so I love to go to thrift stores and antique malls. I collect vintage glassware, especially Pyrex. I am also involved with Richmond For All, a local organization that focuses on racial and economic justice.

Welcome to the Children Incorporated team, Katie! We are so glad to have you with us.

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

You can sponsor a child in one of three ways: call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with one of our staff members; email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org; or go online to our sponsorship portal, create an account, and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Shelley Callahan | En Español

Children Incorporated’s Hope In Action Fund supports our affiliated sites in a variety of ways, from emergency relief to construction projects and beyond. As one of our oldest and most valuable funds helping children and families living in poverty, it is amazing how this special fund touches lives in so many positive ways.

“With the Hope In Action Funds, I started a Fall garden at the school that includes kale, lettuce, beets, collard greens, cabbage, rainbow chard, arugula, peas, and pole beans. It has been so much fun!”

Today, we hear from our volunteer coordinator, Sydney, at G.H. Reid Elementary School, about how our Hope In Action Fund allowed her to create a new school garden, and how it has not only been educational for students, but a lot of fun as well!

A letter from Sydney

“With the Hope In Action Funds, I started a Fall garden at the school that includes kale, lettuce, beets, collard greens, cabbage, rainbow chard, arugula, peas, and pole beans. It has been so awesome!”

The school garden is bringing smiles to the faces of children at G.H. Reid.

“I am sharing a photo of a student in the Children Incorporated sponsorship program named Maria.* Maria was having a tough morning a few weeks ago, and her teacher asked if I could spend some time with her so she could have a break from the classroom. I was watering the garden at the time, so I asked Maria if she’d be interested in helping me.”

“While we tended the garden, I taught Maria about the different parts of the plants (leaves, roots, stems) and showed her how to water directly at the roots. We found some beets that were ready, so she pulled them up. Afterward, I called her mom to see if they would eat beets at home. Her mom was so excited, she happily accepted! Maria took the beets home with her that day.”

Meeting Giselle

“I have also shared a picture of another sponsored child named Giselle.* Giselle used to have a garden at her house in El Salvador, but she doesn’t have enough yard space at her new apartment in Richmond to have one. She loves to help me in the garden and said when she’s grown up, she wants to have plants of her own.”

“We also were able to invite fourth and fifth grade classes out to the garden last week on ‘Hamburger Day’ to add fresh picked lettuce to their hamburgers. The kids thought it was so cool! They were able to try arugula, red leaf lettuce, kale (soaked in water, salt, & olive oil), Great Lakes Head lettuce, and a salad bowl mix.”

“I truly can’t thank you enough for supporting our school garden. It has brought so much joy to staff and students alike! We couldn’t do it without your support.

Warm regards,

Sydney”

*Names changed to protect the children. 

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How do I sponsor  a child with Children Incorporated?

You can sponsor a child in one of three ways: call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with one of our staff members; email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org; or go online to our sponsorship portal, create an account, and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Shelley Callahan | En Español

We feel strongly that the most powerful way we can show you, our supporters, how you are having an impact on children is by sharing stories from our volunteer coordinators who are directly in contact with sponsored children throughout the year.

“I am so grateful that this family was already enrolled in Children Incorporated, so that when this tragedy occurred, we didn’t have to scramble to find resources for them.”

Today we hear from Kimberly at Swansboro Elementary School in Richmond, Virginia, about how sponsorship helped a family through an incredibly difficult time of need and why she is so grateful for our sponsorship program overall.

A note from Kimberly

“As a first-time site coordinator this year, Children Incorporated was unfamiliar to me. I quickly came to realize how helpful this program has been for our students.”

“Two students who come to mind are sisters in the second and third grade. Their family needed assistance obtaining basic needs, like clothing, food, and household items.”

“The students’ mother was the parent who did most of the household management. She always knew what was happening at school, she made sure to communicate with teachers and staff, and she knew what her children needed and did what she had to do to ensure they received it. She was so appreciative of Children Incorporated and was so flexible in scheduling our shopping trips together. She was kind, grateful, and always put her children’s needs first. She was a wonderful mother.”

An immense help to a family in need

“In February, the girls’ mother died unexpectedly. Not only did the family lose a loving mother and wife, they lost the person who glued the family together. The girls’ father stepped up and took on that role immediately. Shortly after her death, we went shopping together with funds from Children Incorporated. Although this was something that their mother always took care of, the father and daughters came together to shop for what they needed. They were sad, of course, but they were also excited to spend time together and buy some nice clothing and groceries.”

“Children Incorporated has helped this family immensely. Sometimes we know what is going on with a family, and we can put measures into place to help them. But often times, we don’t know the full story, nor do we know what could happen next. I am so grateful that this family was already enrolled in the Children Incorporated program, so that when this tragedy occurred, we didn’t have to scramble to find resources for the family. During a time that has been painful and stressful, this family’s involvement with Children Incorporated has alleviated some of the stress involved in obtaining basic needs.”

Supporting as many students as possible

“Other students enrolled have been through difficult circumstances as well. Families have experienced homelessness, sickness, and other hardships. Children Incorporated has helped these families not have to worry about how they will buy clothing or food for their children. It is a wonderful way to provide peace of mind for parents and kids.”

“When students worry about where their next meal will come from, or worry about the cleanliness of their clothing, it is hard for them to focus on school. No child should have to worry about these things. Children Incorporated has helped my students focus on what is important — being a child, making friendships, excelling in school, and being the best version of themselves that they can be.”

“I am so grateful to have this program at my school. It is a wonderful resource for me to lean on for my families. I am so looking forward to enrolling more students, and I know that my students’ involvement with Children Incorporated will continue to help them succeed in and outside of school.”

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

You can sponsor a child in one of three ways: call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with one of our staff members; email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org; or go online to our sponsorship portal, create an account, and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD