The room is filled with an explosion of color as markers and paper are scattered like confetti, creating a vibrant atmosphere. As the president of the Students Helping Impact Foster Teens (SHIFT) Club, the room buzzes with excitement. Summer Rilling, senior president, begins the last meeting of the school year on April 16. She discusses the summer drive that will help Milwaukee foster teens until the next school year.
In the audience observing the club president present the upcoming drive, Melina Angeli, senior, believes it to be a “great idea because this drive is helping these kids and teens with things that they can do over the summer.”
Sarah Robinson, advisor, explains, “Being the SHIFT Club advisor has allowed me to get to know students more and connect them with opportunities to help teens who are in foster care. It is powerful to see so many Homestead students want to make a positive difference in the lives of teens in foster care. Last year, SHIFT donated 25 backpacks filled with school supplies, coloring books, markers and books to kids in foster care through the Department of Human Services-Ozaukee County, in Port Washington. That filled my heart!”
This club started at Homestead in 2015, it is an opportunity to help out by making a certain person’s day. Angeli’s favorite part is “making baskets for people and making cards. Gift giving is so fulfilling and when we have a drive that is successful it really makes a difference and fills up my heart.”
There are many hardships that come along with helping out from a distance. Robinson explained. “The biggest challenge is not being able to interact and support the teens in the foster care program face-to-face. I agree with the confidentiality, but offering donations and cards is sometimes impersonal.” Although the club is unable to meet face-to-face, the organization still makes it clear that they make an impact.
Although they are unable to directly help, everything still helps. Robinson said she received a lovely email from Kids Matter Executive Director, Susan Conwell, recently expressing gratitude. The email showed much appreciation by saying “Thank you for thinking of our foster teens on Valentine’s Day! We are so grateful for the thoughtful Valentine’s Day cards and packages. The blankets are warm and cozy, the Squishmallows couldn’t be more cuddly, and the earbuds are such a welcome treat! Most importantly, thanks for the special recognition of our teens. It means so much.” She continued, “Thanks for walking beside our kids and for believing in them. You are exactly the kind of support our teens are looking for. We are so grateful for your donations and your messages of encouragement and support.” This response made up for not being able to work closely with the foster teens. It makes it all worth it in the end.
During the holiday season, the SHIFT Club donated cold-weather gear for kids. “Thank you so much for the generous holiday drive to benefit teens in foster care. As the temperatures plummet, we are oh-so-grateful for the donations of hoodies, jackets, sweatshirts, and coats with personalized notes of encouragement. We are so appreciative of the warm winter hats and gloves! So many take basic necessities for granted, yet they are so important for youth in foster care. Thanks for making a difference,” Conwell concluded.
For the past two years, Rilling has been the face of this club. It has taken a lot of organizing with no one by her side. She knows this role would be difficult. She explains, “I received the position of president of SHIFT Club by being an active participant all four years. Freshman year I just attended club activities and realized I had a lot of interest in what the club did. My sophomore year I applied to be on the board which then led me to be president my junior and senior year, she said.”
She had a lot more help and more people by her side last year, but this year it has been a struggle with just her basically on the board. As of right now the club is full of seniors who are leaving for college next year, but the president will only be a sophomore. The board next year is younger than usual, Riling shared, “I hope the club continues to make an impact on the foster community. I think I am handing it off to good leaders that will continue the work we have started.”
