After years of trying, a mother of four children under the age of sixteen finally completed substance use treatment. As a result, her children were able to return home from foster care. The mother moved into a new apartment but had no refrigerator or extra income to purchase one. The DSS case manager called her HALOS partner representative, and the next week a note went into the congregation's Sunday bulletin. The following week a "gently used" refrigerator was donated to help this family get back to focusing on family, school, and job goals.
A wheelchair bound foster child was placed in a supportive home with multiple steps to the front door. A group supported by one of the HALOS partners built a ramp at the home. The child now can enter and exit independently from his home.
A foster mom who specialized in caring for medically fragile children wanted to take the children on a vacation to Carowinds amusement park. This took special care and accommodations as many of the children had feeding tubes and wheelchairs. HALOS helped fund the trip by paying for the hotel and admission tickets.
A high school honors student had two wishes. She wanted a high school ring and she wanted a pretty prom dress. HALOS fulfilled both wishes by buying her a ring and donating a prom dress.
A child under DSS treatment developed an interest in playing in the band. HALOS paid for his band fees and band camp for 2 years. HALOS also paid for a week-long trip for this child to Canada to visit a college campus. HALOS has funded visits to college campuses for several children.
An elderly, wheelchair-bound woman was delivered meals on a regular basis. Often she couldn't eat the entire meal in one sitting. Since she wanted to reheat the meals at a later time, HALOS donated a microwave for her safe use. The same woman requested sprays to eradicate pests in her home so that she would not have to touch the roaches that clung to her wheelchair wheels as she moved around her small apartment. HALOS paid for a pest company to fumigate her home.
In another case, several neglected children had to be removed in the middle of the night. Instead of typically packing all the children's belongings into a grocery bag, the DSS worker was able to provide the children with diaper bags, toothbrushes, small boxes of age appropriate toys, and suitcases that had been donated by HALOS. The result was that the children were given a few personal things when they were placed in an unfamiliar home.
DSS was asked to investigate when a child frequently arrived at school in a wet school uniform. The investigation revealed that the mother worked two jobs and could only afford one uniform for the child. HALOS partners bought a uniform plus other school supplies.
A toddler was burned on his face with an iron. The scar was a constant reminder of the abuse. He asked to have the scar removed, but Medicaid could not pay for a cosmetic procedure. A HALOS contact called her friend who was a plastic surgeon and he agreed to do the operation at no cost. This boy is very pleased with the result.
A nine-year old boy's family never owned a sofa. A HALOS partner donated a sofa and the caseworker reported that the child excitedly jumped up and down in delight when he saw that his family could sit together.
A mom and her six children managed to acquire two twin bed mattresses and box springs. They had separated the two sets so that two children slept on each mattress and two on each box spring. HALOS purchased three sets of bunk beds so that that family member could finally sleep in comfort.
A young boy was taken into DSS custody early one morning. He had no belongings and was not even wearing a shirt. A HALOS partner donated clothes for him along with some new school supplies so that he would not miss school. We never know what a small act of kindness can do for these children. HALOS does make a difference!
