VERO BEACH — The tall, slender young woman stood poised in front of a room filled with businesspeople, potential donors and supporters, speaking with a self-confidence she could not have imagined earlier in her life. One of many Hibiscus Children’s Center success stories, Ashley had lived in 58 foster homes between the ages of 5 and 18 when she aged out of the system.
Now a 20-year-old student at the Culinary Institute, her life was turned around by the periods she spent at the Hibiscus Children’s Center’s Shelter and Village, and she had come to tell the story of her journey.
The invitational luncheon at First United Methodist Church also débuted a new DVD production on Hibiscus Children’s Center programs and services. The DVD is part of an Awareness Campaign initiative to compliment the Annual Support Campaign, which hopes to raise $400,000 in Indian River County.
Suzanne Bertman told the gathering of the children who arrive at Hibiscus Children’s Center dying of heartbreak, dying of hunger, and in some cases literally dying.
“These are children dying for someone to pay attention to them, who no longer believe anyone cares for them. The board raises money so that the wonderful staff at Hibiscus can help these kids,” said Bertman.
“We’ve invited someone who has lived the experience,” said J. C. Britt, introducing the inspirational Ashley.
“I came to Hibiscus Village with just the clothes on my back,” said Ashley. She remembered exactly the outfit she was given by staff at the Village so that she could attend school the next day as if nothing had happened.
“No one at school knew I was homeless, abandoned by my parents. Now I had staff members who cared about me. Now I had a family. I could go to these staff members with anything.”
She stressed how critically important it was to each child, to know they could always return to Hibiscus, where the only question they would be asked was, “How can I help you?”
“When my parents didn’t want me anymore, I was given away. I was tired of being a hand-me-down,” said Ashley. “Everything that was ever given to me was from Hibiscus. The Shelter and the Village are the two best places I’ve lived.”
She was touched after reading the children’s book The Giving Tree, and decided that her mission would be to give back to Hibiscus. Rather than purchasing the laptop she was saving for, she donated the money so another child could have something new.
“I was expected to become one of the kids who wasn’t going to succeed. Thanks to Hibiscus, now I am able to continue on a successful path in life.”
Hibiscus Children’s Center offers prevention, residential, shelter and recovery programs to abused, abandoned and neglected children.
