I admit it. I am someone who will get lost on the explore page of Instagram. I will end up going through the trail of posts tangentially related to something I’ve liked or commented on in the past.
It was on one of these random trails that I found a post about the late comedian Robin Williams. The story shared was from a boy named Kyle who had won a contest to be one of Robin’s pen pals for the year. Through a chance meeting, Kyle learned that not only was Robin really the one responding to the letters, the comedian carried the letters around with him to make him feel better when he was feeling down.
The story reminds me of the impact of Boys and Girls Homes. Our mission is to provide a continuum of care to meet the physical, emotional, mental, behavioral, social, educational and spiritual needs of children, youth and families in distress or at-risk. Our vision is to provide an environment of care that promotes health, healing and hope among children, youth and families who enter our continuum of care.
With these intentions, we are striving to make an impact in the lives of all in our care. Yet so many times, the unknown impact is what they are doing in our lives. In talking with staff, or listening to the presentations shared by President Ricky Creech or Chief Missions Officer Ray Cockrell, the impact goes in both directions. And, on very special occasions, I have had the opportunity to hear about the impact youth have had on donors and volunteers. Like the letters Robin carried around with him, the small moments of interaction are carried around in the memory of those involved as a source of inspiration for years to come.
Melissa Hopkins is the Public Relations and Marketing Specialist at Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina.
