Jessie endured immense emotional and physical abuse as a young girl. She suffered through the difficult divorce of her parents, relocation, and then her mother’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis. Jessie found herself pregnant at 15 when she was placed in foster care, along with her twin sister and another sister who was handicapped—and her foster parents already had five children.
Through all this, Jessie refused to let her circumstances hold her back. Sunrise Children’s Services came to Jessie’s aid, helping her find direction and the resolve to work toward a brighter future. Now 19, Jessie has her own apartment, is raising her daughter, and is going to school to earn a nursing degree.
Sunrise Children’s Services touches the lives of nearly 1,000 children across Kentucky every day—from foster care, to residential therapy, and independent living. We provide hope and healing to children like Jessie who eventually found stability and a role model for motherhood through Sunrise.
Mother’s Day is a day we set aside each year to honor that special woman who is a blessing in our life. This is the woman who makes her children feel uplifted through love, guidance and encouragement—who unselfishly gives her heart and soul to care for her family each day. But not every child has someone in their life to call mom, and this is a reality we often see at Sunrise.
This Mother’s Day, Sunrise Children’s Services has set an ambitious goal to raise $100,000 for the children who need us most. These dollars help us continue finding forever homes for kids in crisis like Jessie. Our hope is that all children will know a mother’s love, and can count on the kindness of generous donors to provide much needed help and healing. Can we count on your support?
We wish all mothers a blessed and Happy Mother’s Day. If you’d like to make a gift to Sunrise Children’s Services in honor of a special woman in your life, contribute online at sunrise.org/donate.
Melissa Bailey is associate director of communications for Sunrise Children’s Services.
Melissa Bailey