Volunteering at the Foster Care Foundation by Jasmine

Volunteering at the Foster Care Foundation by Jasmine - May 2018 Scholarship Essay

In April of 2018, I participated in a volunteer event sponsored by a volunteer club in my high school at a Foster Care Foundation. Before then I had never volunteered with foster care so I did not know what to expect, I had heard from a friend who volunteered before me that she sorted clothes so I assumed that is what I would do as well. When I arrived at the place, new comers watched an introductory video which featured an older man speaking on how the foundation has helped him tremendously with the four children him and his wife had decided to take in and how there are so many items they have received from the foundation. I took a peak around the space after and for a non-profit organization who only takes donations, it was huge with so much stuff which is amazing because then you know people are giving back to a good cause.
Next, fast forward to the first task I did which was sorting clothes for boys and girls, babies and children. There were so many clothes donated and it inspired me to want to bring my clothes I no longer wear there. I usually donate to a foundation that comes door to door for clothes but I would love to also donate to the foster care foundation. And after sorting for a while, I decided to go play with the foster children. There is a playroom provided for the children to play while their foster parents shop for them. I do not know much about the foster care process but I saw the parents holding a piece of paper given to them upon entering with a list of items on the paper. I don’t know if it was what they were allowed to get or what and I never found out. But playing with the kids was a lot of fun, I love kids; they were very sweet and outgoing, and a few were shy but a group of four siblings taught me something, children don’t see race.
This little girl who told me she was four years old told me about her parents, what she liked to do, and about her siblings. I knew right away who her brother was, they looked identical but it was when she pointed to these two black children and said they also were her brother and sister was when my heart swelled. I am black, so when this sweet little white girl told me about her beautiful mixed family is when I realized kids do not see color until it made a realization to them. Those kids were all related for all they cared, it didn’t matter what color their skin was and I love that. None of us are born hating the other race, we are taught that and I am glad I learned there is still a chance for the racism issue to get better. But in addition to that, I feel for all the kids in foster care and I pray they are all in a safe environment and feel loved. And sometimes you can learn a thing or two from children.