When children arrive at our shelters, they bring more than needs. They bring dreams. Some are small and immediate. Some reach far into the future. All of them matter.

Right now, when we listen to the children in our shelters, we hear hopes that sound familiar — the kinds of dreams many of us once held ourselves.

Some want to do well in school.
Some love music and talk about learning instruments or singing.
Some dream of playing sports, running fast, or being part of a team.
Others talk about becoming teachers, nurses, pastors, mechanics, or caregivers — roles rooted in service and purpose.

What makes them especially meaningful is the context in which they’re spoken. Many of these children have experienced instability, loss, or circumstances far beyond their control. Yet when given safety, routine, and encouragement, their imaginations begin to stretch again.

Dreaming is a sign of healing.

In our shelters, children are not pressured to know exactly who they will become. They are simply given the space to learn, grow, and imagine a future that feels possible. Education, consistent care, and trusted adults create the foundation where those dreams can take root. We don’t measure success by how quickly dreams are achieved. We measure it by whether children feel safe enough to have them at all.

As we move into a new year, we’re reminded that every form of support — events, sponsorships, prayers, generosity — helps protect this space where children can dream freely and grow steadily.

And that is something worth building together.