Junior League Shows Love For Agape
Junior League of Memphis recently donated $15,000 to Agape Child & Family Services to serve the children in their Kids in Transition (KIT) Program. Agape’s Kids in Transition (KIT) Program focuses exclusively on homeless youth served through Agape’s highly successful Families in Transition (FIT) program, which serves homeless, pregnant women and their homeless children in a 2-year residential program.
Many of the women are abused, impoverished, unemployed, under-employed, or unable to earn a living wage. Some of them have burned bridges with family members, friends, employers and even social service agencies. They have taken advantage of short-term solutions, but are unable to attain lasting change. Research shows that their homeless children, therefore, are at a critically high risk of entering foster care, dropping out of school, poor school performance, teenage pregnancy, mental illness (such as depression), alcohol and other drug use/abuse.
Many of the homeless youth and their families are unable to break the cycle of poverty. The children suffer from this experience and encounter physical, emotional and financial effects that can last into adulthood if not addressed early on. It is Agape’s goal to put the “Kids in Transition” (served at FIT) in touch with appropriate relationships, supports and services in their early developmental years so that they may be successful as youth and, later on, adults.
“We are honored by Junior League’s support of our mission,” notes David Jordan, Executive Director of Agape Child & Family Services. “In fact, this is their 2nd year of support for us, and we are very proud of this partnership.” For more information on KIT or FIT, contact Angela White, FIT Coordinator, at (901) 324.5436 or via email at angela.white@agapemeanslove.org.