When growing up, I was placed in foster care because my biological mother and father were deceased. I was alone, and didn’t have any family members in my life. I was molested twice by my foster parents, and he threatened to kill me if I told anyone about it. Then it happened again in a different foster home. I started to feel that nobody loved me and I ran away.
When I was 10 years old, I was homeless and living on the streets, doing drugs and alcohol. At age 11, I joined a gang for acceptance, love and responsibility. Several times I have tried to take my own life, due to loneliness and rejection. But since I have been involved in Reaching Out From Within the past three years, I have a family now–and I feel like this organization saved me.
I’m very appreciative of what Reaching Out From Within has given me, to help turn my past around and to strengthen me for the future.