Our community has recognized a need and taken action to extend the hand of friendship and support to a group of young adults who need and want connection. Join JOY (Joining Our Youth Inc.) on our mission to improve the quality of life for youths aging out of foster care by becoming a member.
We offer the following membership levels:
- Individual $35
- Couple $50
- Annual Sustainer $100
- Annual Benefactor $250
- Corporate Benefactor $1,000
You must be a member of JOY in order to participate in the organization as a Mentor and/or Team Member.
CLICK HERE to download a NEW MEMBER INFO & INTEREST form.
Surely you have an hour or two a week to listen.
Young adults aging out of the foster case system don't want professional advice or counseling so much as they crave a good listener, someone outside the "system" who will meet with them on an informal basis to provide emotional support, friendship and social interaction.
In order to become a mentor, a JOY member must take (3) 3-hour classes lead by a behavior analyst instructor to become a Certified Listener. Then the mentor can then be matched with a youth aging out of care. The mentor and mentee can then agree to meet on an informal basis for one to two hours a week to talk. Mentors provide emotional support, friendship and social interaction.
All of our mentors must first be JOY members, complete the Certified Listener course and agree to a background check and fingerprinting. If you or anyone you know is interested, plese contact Joann Evans at jodievans@verizon.net.
If mentoring is not an option for you, become a support team member. Below are some opportunities -
a little support goes a long way!
- Work at Joy's Trendy Threads shop (3-hr shifts from 1-4pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays)
- Help plan picnics, parties, and celebrations for the youth aging out and for our current mentees.
- Shop and help assemble Housekeeping Starter Kits (52 items that include bed/bath/kitchen items, tools, personal hygiene products, and cleaning supplies)
- Show them you care. Come mingle with our mentees at planned activities.
- Become an ambassador for JOY in the community. Help inform your family, friends and neighbors of the abused, neglected and abandoned children living among us.
- Join us in raising funds to help these young adults start their new lives by supporting the fundraisers - join the commitee, attend the event, put together a table of friends.
DONATE TO JOY
If you are too busy to become a member or mentor, or perhaps are a seasonal resident of the Sarasota/Bradenton area, you are always welcome to make a financial donation towards our mission. Joining Our Youth, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
