How First U Helps Homeless Youth

How Did Our Church Help A Teenager Living in the Woods?

John ran away from his home in the Midwest when he was 17 years old and came to Worcester to meet a friend. With no job and no money, John lived “in the woods” in Worcester. A Stand Up For Kids-Worcester volunteer found John on the streets of Worcester and this began their relationship. John’s wish was to return to high school, but because he didn’t know where he was born, did not have his previous school records and did not have a local address, he was refused acceptance when he tried to enter school on his own. Stand Up For Kids-Worcester helped John get his birth certificate, located his previous school records, provided him meals, helped him find a place to live and he returned to school. A year later, John graduated from high school on the Dean’s list. John is 20 years old today, lives with his girlfriend and her mother in Worcester, and is currently attending college part time in a pre-med program.

How did First Unitarian help?

Our Church was one of the founders of Jericho Road-Worcester who, in turn, assisted Stand Up For Kids – Worcester.  Here’s how we were able to be a part of the help John received:

• Our Church was one of the founders of Jericho Road-Worcester who, in turn, assisted Stand Up For Kids – Worcester. Here’s how we were able to be a part of the help John received:
• First Unitarian, along with First Baptist and Unitarian Universalist Churches of Worcester are sponsors of Jericho Road-Worcester (JRW), an affiliate of the Jericho Road Project, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization. JRW matches the professional skills of our volunteers with more than 30 nonprofit organizations in the greater Worcester community
• Stand Up For Kids-Worcester is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization and is run entirely by volunteers who find homeless and alone kids in the Worcester community and help them improve their lives. They needed some help.
• A member of our Church and JRW board member (Joan Russo), provided management coaching to Stand Up For Kids-Worcester’s Executive Director and helped create their first Executive Board.
• Our Church recently designated Stand Up For Kids-Worcester as one of our 50/50 plate collection recipients.  Our generous donations contributed over $1600 to the homeless children of Worcester.
• Inspired by both JRW and Stand Up For Kids-Worcester’s mission, another member of our church (Lisa Siciliano) designated Stand Up For Kids-Worcester as this year’s non-profit recipient of a portion of sales of her original artwork at Sparkreations.

If you are interested in being a volunteer with JRW or making a monetary contribution please contact Jolene Jennings, the JRW Director at jjennings@jerichoroadproject.org  or visit our webpage at www.jerichoroadproject.org/Worcester

If being a member of the JRW Board is of interest to you, please speak to Jeanine Beratta or Joan Russo.