"Together, a book of memories has been instilled
in my children that will last a lifetime." — Sunday Friends Mom

Alberto and the Baby Carriage

We first met Alberto four years ago when his family moved into the homeless shelter where we were running our Sunday Friends program at the time.

Alberto, age 12, took to our program right away. Each Sunday, as soon as we arrived, Alberto would run to greet us, anxious to help unload the van and set up the program. Throughout every program, he would participate fully in juicing, cooking, writing and art projects. He was often the first to volunteer for cleanup. He enthusiastically joined in the educational games, usually helping little ones to practice their counting or English.

We watched Alberto amass large numbers of tickets, yet week after week he would pass up the shopping excursion to the Treasure Chest. He was saving. We all wondered what he might be saving for. A stereo system? Sports equipment?

Ebony, a tired-looking, slow-moving, very pregnant single mom of three young children, was also a resident of the shelter in which we ran our program. Ebony was of no relation to Alberto, a different race, in fact. We learned what Alberto was saving his tickets for the day Ebony had her baby.

Alberto went shopping in the Treasure Chest that day. He spent his entire savings of tickets to "buy" a deluxe baby carriage for Ebony and her new baby girl. Ebony froze with amazement then sobbed with gratitude. In fact, you could hardly find a dry eye among any of us that day.

When we asked Alberto why he chose to spend all of his tickets to help Ebony, he said simply, "Because she needed it, she had no other way to get one and I could get her one."

We all learned that day what humble empowerment looks like.

Raphael's Hands

Eight-year-old Raphael entered our program as a full-blown kleptomaniac. When he entered a room, his hands would grab for anything available to tuck under his shirt, even before his eyes met ours.

After a month and a half of observing Sunday Friends from a distance, Raphael's behavior began to change. He started participating in our activities and earning tickets for what he wanted. He took pride in serving as a bilingual translator and a Spanish teacher in parts of our program.

At Christmas-time, we appointed Raphael the "Guardian" of our child-decorated Christmas tree. His job was to spread the word that the ornaments were not to be harmed or taken. He responded to our trust and the supportive environment we had created for him. The tree was safe in his hands.

Over time, Raphael's grabbing habit slowed then ceased altogether. After his family moved out of the shelter, they continued to return for our program and to contribute in a variety of ways. It seemed to us that Raphael became a child for the first time, naturally curious, enthusiastic, and more settled.

Even today, Raphael and his sisters continue to visit Sunday Friends in our new location and to join in our activities. His face always carries a wide smile and his hands have not even hinted at stealing anything from us.