Involvement Archives - Empowering Children

Donor Appreciation

By Traci Cheek|2023-01-05T18:45:55+00:00January 5, 2023|Donor Appreciation, Involvement, TXGBR News|

Commitment from Donors I was visiting with one of our donors recently and he told me about the financial struggles their family had been going through this past year. He told me he and his wife had agreed they would still give throughout the year, but it would be considerably less than their normal donations. At the end of the year, they received some surprise money and decided they wanted to donate the balance of what their normal donation was, plus a little more. It really warms my heart to know that such wonderful people care so much about [...]

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Foster Focus

By Angela Skorick|2023-01-05T21:36:55+00:00January 5, 2023|Foster Focus, Involvement, TXGBR News|

This is the time of year many people are reflecting on the previous year and looking to make goals for the year in front of them. As an agency, we are no different. We look at the characteristics of the children we cared for, why we had to deny the placement of other children, the families we licensed, and the adoptions that were made. There is always a flow of families in and out. When families adopt, they most often no longer foster. So, we must license new families in order to keep caring for children. Last year we served [...]

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Education, Recreation & Spiritual Development

By Jeremy A. Walker|2023-01-05T18:29:09+00:00January 5, 2023|Involvement, Spiritual Development, TXGBR News|

Winter is a time of peace and rest for the land, and it is necessary for future growth. However, many children at Texas Girls & Boys Ranch have not experienced peace in their lives due to the abuse and neglect they have endured. It is important that we provide a peaceful environment for these children, and we pray that this peaceful season will help prepare their hearts to hear about Jesus Christ. When our children experience the love of Jesus and relax their defenses, they can allow themselves to heal and grow. Just as the land rests during the winter, [...]

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Foster Focus

By Angela Skorick|2023-01-05T18:37:07+00:00October 26, 2022|Foster Focus, Involvement, TXGBR News|

One of the highlights in this job is when we have adoptions. It is such a happy time for all of us. We know how far the child has come while in the care of the foster/adoptive family and couldn’t be more pleased to see the family finalize the adoption. Many of our adoptions occur because families have been fostering children and then those children become available for adoption. By that time the family has become so invested and attached that they can’t imagine the child going anywhere else. Other times there are children available for adoption but the foster family decided not to [...]

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Campus Corner

By Roger Mahan|2023-01-05T18:37:21+00:00October 26, 2022|Campus Corner, Events, Involvement, TXGBR News|

Many associate Fall with football. It is a time of (hopefully) cooler weather and Friday nights in the stands cheering for the local teams. This year we have fewer than normal participating on the team, but on any given weekend you can find our house parents with the whole cottage cheering on their cottage-mates and friends. Team sports are a great way to learn about commitment and community and you are making it possible for us to serve kids in this and so many other special ways that bring a smile to their faces. Thank you for allowing us to [...]

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Education, Recreation & Spiritual Development

By Jeremy A. Walker|2023-01-05T18:37:30+00:00October 26, 2022|Events, Involvement, Spiritual Development, TXGBR News|

If we hope to transform the lives of our children, we must often reframe their view of education. Many children come into care thinking that school is a place where their inadequacies are exposed, and their insecurities grow. For our kids to succeed as they go back to school, we must be intentional in building them up with every opportunity! Throughout the summer, the children at Texas Girls & Boys Ranch participate in a program designed to enrich their lives in as many ways as possible. Each child we serve engages in arts and crafts, games, equine therapy, cultural enrichment [...]

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Shelter Spotlight

By Katy Phillips|2023-01-05T18:37:49+00:00May 3, 2022|Involvement, Shelter Spotlight, TXGBR News|

Several weeks ago we received a food donation from a local church. It came in a big file box with all the fixings for a tasty feast! The meal was delicious, but one of our kiddos was very fascinated with that file box. He said “That is a beautiful box!” He wanted to keep it and turn it into something new. He held on to that box and played with it for several days. It was quite comical how attached and enamored he was with the box. But it really got me thinking. Our kiddos find such joy in the [...]

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Campus Corner

By Roger Mahan|2023-01-05T18:37:58+00:00May 3, 2022|Campus Corner, Events, Involvement, TXGBR News|

The house parents and kids have begun dreaming and making plans for this summer. It is an especially exciting time this year with the promise of activities WITHOUT COVID restrictions. Many of our kids have never been on a true vacation where they take in cultural activities, try regional foods and/or see variations in landscape other than that of West Texas. Some of them may have never been able to ask, “Are we there yet?” But with your help, we can make it happen. Summer will be here before we know it and we want to thank you for helping [...]

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Donor Appreciation

By Traci Cheek|2023-01-05T18:38:10+00:00February 25, 2022|Donor Appreciation, Involvement, TXGBR News|

It is such a blessing to be able to do what I love for a living. Asking you, our friends and donors for the funds necessary to fulfill our mission is easy. But sometimes I get so focused on the WHAT ($$$$$) that I can lose sight of the WHY. What is the WHY? It is the three siblings who are so happy to be together in one foster family after being split up for months, but who now face separation again if we can’t find an adoptive family who will take all three. It’s the teen girl who has [...]

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Shelter Spotlight

By Katy Phillips|2023-01-05T18:38:25+00:00January 20, 2022|Donor Appreciation, Involvement, Shelter Spotlight, TXGBR News|

Our community never ceases to amaze me with their outpouring of support for our kiddos! The 2021 holiday season was filled with the usual chaos, but we also received many new kiddos towards the Christmas holidays. Having to leave your home and all you know, especially around Christmas, can be so difficult and scary. One of our newest kids said it best the morning after she arrived, “I finally feel safe.” Our community stepped up to make sure we not only have a place for these kiddos to feel safe, but that we were able to celebrate the season with [...]

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