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Unconditional Love Is Found
Every ten seconds a child is reported abused or neglected in the United States. |
Alexandria, Virginia -- BANG! Click.
A slammed door and the harsh bolting of a lock echoed throughout the apartment building. "Mommy! Mama? Mommy, open the door," screamed the terrified five-year-old. Silence answered the child's pounding on the door. During the night, neighbors heard the abandoned boy's cries and called his grandmother. Billy's grandmother didn't want him. Neighbors then called his great-grandmother. Would she love him?
Marie lived on less than $300 a month, but she wouldn't reject Billy. He had already been through unimaginable pain. Hardness seeped out of this hurting child's eyes. Marie and Billy soon sought counsel from Rev. Rachel "grandma" Ewell of Anchor of Hope, an OBI outreach center. During their first meeting, Rachel found out it was the child's birthday! Never having received a birthday present before, Billy was treated to a decorated birthday cake, lemon pie, some cookies and best of all, a toy he could call his own. Three weeks of intensive counseling followed including a highly emotional session when Billy's defenses broke down and a sobbing boy appeared, trusting Marie enough to love him unconditionally.
Two years have passed since Marie and Billy became a family. Marie is one of about 100 Anchor of Hope volunteers who reach out to thousands of children living in 27 low-income neighborhoods throughout northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Now seven, Billy is a model child and heartily participates in his neighborhood's six-week summer Back Yard Camp Out. "The neighborhood knows who is hurting," Rachel commented. "That's why we go to the children instead of asking them to come to us."
Six through nineteen-year-olds from any cultural background are eligible to enroll in this fun literacy program. Senior counselors, as well as retired teachers and social workers teach the children language arts, spelling, reading, writing, math and computer training. For hands-on experience, students can go on field trips, participate in the children's choir, act in creative dramas, make crafts, learn from area professionals and experience different cultures through guest speakers, all for free. Physical hunger is satisfied when breakfast, lunch or snacks are served. Tutoring and one-on-one help is also available for those with special needs.
"Bless-A-Child is the best program that OBI has as far as I'm concerned," expressed Rachel. "These children don't have any hope and we give it to them. We appreciate being able to be a partner with OBI. We can help thousands more than what we can do on our own."
Plans are underway for this summer's Bless-A-Child program. Rachel will add English classes. Approximately 30% of the adults and children Anchor of Hope assists don't speak or read English. In order to get along better, the children need to learn how to understand each other.
Please invest in a child and give towards Bless-A-Child today!
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