Child Protection United States Project #37799

Be the Foundation of a Family for Homeless Youth

by The HALO Foundation

Be the Foundation of a Family for Homeless Youth

Project Report | Jan 19, 2022
Annual HALO Holiday Dinner

By Kayla Keller | Operations Manager

Holiday Dinner with HALO Alumni and Staff

One of our favorite HALO Holiday traditions in Jefferson City is our annual dinner at the Jefferson City Country Club. We love it because we get to help our current HALO kids and HALO Alumni look and feel their very best, and we get to take them somewhere they haven't been before. Generous stylists donate their time and talent to ensure our girls' hair and makeup are done professionally for our girls home. Our kids each get to choose a special outfit to wear to dinner, the first semi-formal event many of them have ever attended. We had the opportunity to discuss manners and etiquette in a real-life setting and enjoy some truly delicious food together.

Each year, HALO Founder Rebecca Welsh asks each attendee to talk about what they are thankful for and what they learned in the past year. Resoundingly, our kids stated they are grateful for HALO, the family they found there, and the people from HALO who have believed in them. What they learned always teaches us something about what is important, as they talk about seeing their potential and strength in ways they never thought possible. It is easy to see why it is our favorite night as it fills our cups and reminds us how important the work of HALO is because the kids of HALO are truly sensational human beings.

Thank you for making a difference in the lives of the children we serve at HALO. We couldn't do this without you.

HALO Youth Ziere and HALO Program Manager Darian

Holiday Dinner with HALO Boys Program

Dance Party after HALO Holiday Dinner

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Sep 30, 2021
Family Night Fun

By Kayla Keller | Jefferson City Operations Manager

HALO Workshop

Family Night is an important part of the HALO Jefferson City Girls Home. Family Night happens each week, on Thursday evening, for 2 hours. During that time all the residents of the HALO Home spend time together. They enjoy a warm meal donated through Meal Train by our HALO Volunteers and do an activity together as a HALO family. It isn't unusual for a past HALO resident to join in on Thursday Family Night long after leaving the program. They enjoy the distraction-free time and thoughtful activities prepared by HALO Staff.

The activities on family night vary from week to week. Often we invite a guest speaker to teach our HALO kids valuable life skills like budgeting, organization, or meal prep. If no guest speaker is scheduled, our HALO Staff teach a lesson to encourage and empower our kids. A few Thursdays ago, the HALO ladies learned about the importance of self-care and making time to help themselves feel your best. They did face masks and HALO Staff treated them to manicures.

Most Family Nights, HALO youth are encouraged to participate in an art activity. These art projects give our HALO kids an outlet for feelings they might not usually have a way to express. A HALO Staff member or volunteer leads these projects with an inspiration piece, something to encourage creativity, and then we let our kids create as they wish.

A couple of weeks ago, the HALO girls made self-control wheels to focus on the things in their control rather than the things outside of their control to avoid negative feelings and feeling powerless. Last week, they talked about doing good things for others and how kind acts have been proven scientifically to help your mental health by releasing endorphins.

No matter the activity, we are impressed and awed each week by our kids' talented people. We get to see bits of their stories, and their bravery through artistic expression and mindful thoughts. We are constantly so proud to know them and thankful to have Family Night to share with them.

Thank you for making sure HALO kids have a chance to enjoy Family Night. We appreciate your support!

Special manicures for our HALO girls!

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Jun 7, 2021
Building Others Up

By Carly Schultze | Program Director

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