The Relatives’ Family Update
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Dear Relatives,
We’ve officially hit the 6-month mark of living during the COVID-19 pandemic and, while it has been a challenging time filled with unknowns, there is one thing that has remained constant. We keep moving.
For over 45 years, The Relatives, with the help of supporters like you, has provided young people – the ones on the edge for whom no one else can seem to find an answer – a safe place and an accepting environment. We build them up through programs at our crisis center, housing program, and resource center, reestablishing an all-important human connection so they feel empowered to reach their dreams.
This crisis hasn’t stopped us from connecting with our youth. If anything, it has empowered us to hit the ground running and face challenges head-on.
Since March alone, we’ve seen 330 young adults walk into our On Ramp resource center, and 175 youth sought refuge at our crisis center through our walk-in and residential services. We’re preparing our kids for a stable future by giving them the tools to manage their stress with the addition of mental health services at both locations, providing virtual group therapy sessions and one-on-one sessions twice a week. We’ve even been able to give our buildings a bit of a face lift with grants funding new carpets at the resource center, new floors at our crisis center, and other renovations to the kitchen and bathrooms coming soon.
You have adapted and responded with us and have shown our youth that we can overcome obstacles together.
No matter what the road looks like for our youth, your support ensures we are ready to stand beside them and help them cross that finish line.
Trish Hobson
Executive Director
Making Their Voice Count
Now, more than ever, it’s important to stand up for what we believe in. Our young adults can often feel powerless over their crisis, but you help us remind them that their voice can be heard through their vote. We have had great partners in our community show up for our young adults to empower them this year and beyond.
A few months ago, VoteRiders presented John Lewis: Good Trouble at out On Ramp resource center to celebrate this true American hero and an unrelenting force in the continuing struggle for civil rights. We can all honor John Lewis by protecting our right to vote. They will also be hosting one-on-one sessions with our kids in the following weeks to help them obtain an ID if they don’t already have one. Urban League has also hosted workshops on voting and why it’s vital.
We are so grateful to these supporters for ensuring our youth can overcome any barriers to get out and vote!
Keeping the Wheels Moving
October 3rd is Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day and Trips for Kids is helping our kids at the crisis center celebrate. They are excited to get out and ride, as it has been too long since they’ve been able to visit our youth!
They will be hosting a small in-person event for our kids, getting them out of the shelter and into some fresh air. We are so grateful to Trips for Kids, who provides all participants with bikes for the event. It is critical for the kids who seeks shelter and respite to have the chance for positive social interaction.
We hope this will be the first of many small, outdoor gatherings we can host for our youth.
Race with Purpose
We are so fortunate to have Shelley McLean with One Digital on our board. She is not only a stellar board member, but a dedicated volunteer, ensuring our young adults have lunch every week. One Digital hosts a run every year, and this year it will be held virtually and will benefit The Relatives and other children’s charities.
All miles will be logged virtually and the winning team will make a donation to the charity of their choice. If you are interested in signing up you can sign up here.
Just make sure to selected NC Mustangs as your team!
