Read this book to me?

Marta handed me a book and gestured to the couch in her foster home: "Would you read this book to me?"  

I’ve known Marta for three years, since she was in kindergarten. She’s had a tough go of it in her eight short years of life. She’s been in and out and now back into foster care. It’s taking a toll on her brain. She’s stuck in fight-or-flight mode.

Marta’s foster parents are friends of The Bridge and are doing yeoman’s work, bridging the gap for Marta and her family. And yet, in the meantime, Marta’s brain is buzzing with anxiety: “Her little brain doesn’t get much rest,” foster mom told me recently.  

And so when Marta asked me if I would read to her, I was all in. I was all in for my sake, because reading to my own children and now grandchildren is such a rewarding experience. And I was all in for Marta’s sake because snuggling on a couch with a trusted adult, reading a fun book together is so good for a child’s brain.  

And then it got even better! As I started to read, Marta interrupted me. She was trying to communicate something to me about the author of the book.  

“Wait, what?! Jennae Noelle? Is this our Jennae?!?,” I exclaimed. 

It was. It is. Jennae works at The Bridge as an Advocate-Mentor in our LIfe Buddies program. She’s written and illustrated several children’s books. And here I was reading Happy Birthday, Pink Dog, to her mentee on the couch of a good friend and foster parent.  

“It takes a village,” I’ve heard repeatedly. And in this moment, I was part of Marta’s village, just like Jennae is, and like her foster parents are. Marta’s parents were never meant to do this work alone.  

Neither are we. And that’s why we’re grateful for you. Thank you for helping us to recruit, train, send, and support mentors who work hard to bless kids like Marta. 

PS – November’s theme in our Core Strengths Curriculum is “Gratitude.” We plan activities and crafts that will teach our kids thankfulness. And, perhaps more importantly, our team practices gratitude together all month long. So, in keeping with that theme I want to express our appreciation: Thank you for supporting The Bridge!