Heather
During my time as an intern with Future for KIDS I had the joy of being a mentor at two of the sites. As the weeks went by, it surprised me how excited I was to see the kids as I drove there each week. Two things became very apparent to me as I spent more and more time with them - they don't need a lot to be happy, and family is the most important thing in the world. As mentors, we never really had to help the little kids make their snack or show them how to do the activity because their big brothers and sisters were there for them.

I also spent a lot of time in the office working on grants. I am extremely thankful for that experience because I got to see how the funds I requested this semester are on behalf of the kids and for their direct benefit. The biggest thing I will take away with me from my time with the kids at Helping Hands is the joy they have in their hearts and how contagious it is when you're with them. I never imagined jumping rope and throwing footballs could encourage such laughter and happiness -- and I'm not talking about the kids! Just seeing little Zac run across the basketball court or hearing Joseph sing his ABCs with his two front teeth missing automatically lifted my spirit and put a smile on my face.

Heather Goldie