Two and a half years ago Bernard came to Kids Around the World as a volunteer through the recovery program at Rockford Rescue Mission. He worked with us in the warehouse as a summer intern through Workforce Connection while Tim Clauson, Senior Playground Manager, helped him find a full-time job. In the fall he started working with LJ Fabricators and has been there for close to a year now. During this year, Bernard has continued to volunteer with us in the warehouse, on playground projects, and even helped one of our staff move. He was able to move out of the mission, celebrated three years of sobriety, and moved into his own apartment. To help get him started on his own, one of our generous volunteers who met Bernard when he was volunteering in our Rockford office bought him a bed. Bernard recently bought a new car and felt called to donate his previous car to a woman who was in need of transportation after totaling hers. After he shared this moment of ‘paying it forward’ he said, “thank you again for everything KATW has done for me. I’ll never be able to show enough gratitude that the Lord placed you in my life.”

We have been blessed in our ministry to create opportunities for others to be impacted by the transforming hope of God. Our hearts are full as we get to share these moments of impact happening behind the scenes.