Vulnerable Children
“Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless.” (Psalm 82:3)
Many children in Arlington are falling through the achievement gap, due to language barriers or lack of tutoring. Others grow up in homes vulnerable to neglect or abuse, with 70 children currently in foster care. Those who age out of the foster care system are set up for a lifetime of hardship.
What could it look like, if we worked together?
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Bridge Kids
Bridge Builders is currently working with an elementary school in South Arlington where the reading and math proficiency rates are among the lowest in the county, largely because the students struggle in English. In close cooperation with their parents, the school and the community, we provide a free, twice-weekly “Entry to English” program that includes sports and activities.
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Back To School Festival
At the end of the summer break, our partner churches provide over 500 backpacks to help disadvantaged children begin the school year on a strong foot. The event is combined with activities, games, and food to make for a fun and uplifting day, where kids feel supported by a loving community. Volunteers are needed to serve food, lead activities and games with kids, and just have fun making friends with our neighbors.
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Foster & Adoption Network
Several of our partner churches work closely with Project Belong, a ministry to encourage and equip churches to care for vulnerable children. Together, we want to ensure every child in need of a foster home has a family ready to welcome them, county social workers are supported, and aged out youth have a mentor who invests in them. Not everyone is called to be a foster parent, but we can all serve.
“I don’t have friends. I have associates.”
~Local young man who aged out of the foster care system,
reflecting on the lack of trusted relationships in his life
due to many years of adults not showing up.