Being Good Neighbors

Credit: Hephzibah When kids arrive at the doors of Hephzibah Home deeply wounded, neglected, or traumatized, they come with deep internalized beliefs like “I’m a burden to others,” or “I’m not deserving of love.” Untangling those beliefs with a child is what Hephzibah does best, and we rely on our entire community to show them what safety, joy, and cooperation look like. Empathy is something we teach across all our programs – working with our after-school families to put together care packages, connecting struggling families with community resources but it’s especially impactful on the kids living at Hephzibah Home. Each year the residents put together kits of essentials for the unhoused around Oak Park with socks, hats, hygiene products, blankets, snacks, and water. It’s powerful to see the kids take pride in the impact they have on a neighbor in need when they exclaim, “They’re using the blanket I gave them!” Or, “that’s the hat I gave away!” Our supporters play an esse